University of Massachusetts-Amherst vs Boston University: which has better ROI?
Boston University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,608 in 2.8 years versus 3.8 years at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, on median earnings of $83,238 vs $71,631 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Boston University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,383 | $24,402 |
| Total net cost | $89,532 | $97,608 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,631 | $83,238 |
| Median debt | $22,763 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | 2.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $375,888 | $599,952 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Massachusetts-Amherst or Boston University?
University of Massachusetts-Amherst, at $22,383 a year after aid versus $24,402 — a gap of $2,019 a year, or $8,076 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Massachusetts-Amherst or Boston University graduates earn more?
Boston University graduates report a median $83,238 ten years after entry, $11,607 more than the $71,631 at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. 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, University of Massachusetts-Amherst or Boston University?
University of Massachusetts-Amherst: its completers carry a median $22,763 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Boston University, a difference of $487. 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 Boston University, against 83% at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. 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.