Wellesley College vs Amherst College: which has better ROI?
Wellesley College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,984 in 2.8 years versus 3.2 years at Amherst College, on median earnings of $84,803 vs $77,644 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wellesley College | Amherst College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,496 | $23,367 |
| Total net cost | $101,984 | $93,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,803 | $77,644 |
| Median debt | $10,000 | $13,740 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $626,876 | $492,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Wellesley College or Amherst College?
Amherst College, at $23,367 a year after aid versus $25,496 — a gap of $2,129 a year, or $8,516 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Wellesley College or Amherst College graduates earn more?
Wellesley College graduates report a median $84,803 ten years after entry, $7,159 more than the $77,644 at Amherst College. 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, Wellesley College or Amherst College?
Wellesley College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $13,740 at Amherst College, a difference of $3,740. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Amherst College, against 92% at Wellesley College. 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.