Wellesley College vs Massachusetts Maritime Academy: which has better ROI?
Massachusetts Maritime Academy has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $86,328 in 2.5 years versus 2.8 years at Wellesley College, on median earnings of $82,392 vs $84,803 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wellesley College | Massachusetts Maritime Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,496 | $21,582 |
| Total net cost | $101,984 | $86,328 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,803 | $82,392 |
| Median debt | $10,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 2.8 yrs | 2.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $626,876 | $594,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Wellesley College or Massachusetts Maritime Academy?
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, at $21,582 a year after aid versus $25,496 — a gap of $3,914 a year, or $15,656 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 Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduates earn more?
Wellesley College graduates report a median $84,803 ten years after entry, $2,411 more than the $82,392 at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. 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 Massachusetts Maritime Academy?
Wellesley College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a difference of $15,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
92% of students finish at Wellesley College, against 74% at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. 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.