Smith College vs Simmons University: which has better ROI?
Simmons University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,060 in 6.7 years versus 7 years at Smith College, on median earnings of $63,494 vs $64,027 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Smith College | Simmons University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,579 | $25,265 |
| Total net cost | $110,316 | $101,060 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,027 | $63,494 |
| Median debt | $17,550 | $24,840 |
| Payback | 7 yrs | 6.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $203,024 | $201,620 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Smith College or Simmons University?
Simmons University, at $25,265 a year after aid versus $27,579 — a gap of $2,314 a year, or $9,256 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Smith College or Simmons University graduates earn more?
Smith College graduates report a median $64,027 ten years after entry, $533 more than the $63,494 at Simmons University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Smith College or Simmons University?
Smith College: its completers carry a median $17,550 in federal loans versus $24,840 at Simmons University, a difference of $7,290. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Smith College, against 72% at Simmons University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.