5 Mass. universities ranked among best for return on investment

WPI

Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Tuesday, August 20.Juliet Schulman-Hall

Five Massachusetts colleges and universities have the among the best return on investment, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

Out of the list of 22 institutions, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bentley University, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Worcester Polytechnic University and Harvard University all made the list.

“Being ranked in the top 20 for return on investment highlights the lasting value of a WPI education,” said WPI President Grace J. Wang. “Our students excel at mastering foundational knowledge and skills in their chosen fields, and the value of our project-based education is exceptionally high because it also teaches students how to develop new ideas and builds character, leading to a lifetime of changemaking and leadership.”

The ranking was based on data from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. The return on investment is calculated by comparing the cost of attendance to future student earnings and the average net price for the institution.

MIT received the second-highest return on investment in the long term on the list with a value of $4,484,000 after 40 years.

The only institution to beat out MIT was Harvey Mudd College in California.

The return on investment at Bentley University grew from $312,000 to $3,830,000 between 10 and 40 years post-graduation.

Between 10 and 40 years post-graduation from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, the value of a bachelor’s degree from the institution increased from $323,000 to $3,458,000.

The report found that after 40 years, a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University gives a return on investment of $3,382,000.

At WPI, which ranked 18th, the return on investment after 40 years was $3,408,000. After 10 years, the return on investment is estimated at $258,000.

Here’s the full list of schools with the best return on investment after 40 years:

  • Duke University (NC) — $3,371,000
  • Santa Clara University (CA) — $3,381,000
  • Yale University (CT) — $3,381,000
  • Harvard University (MA) — $3,382,000
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA) — $3,408,000
  • Cornell University (NY) — $3,424,000
  • Columbia University (NY) — $3,430,000
  • Georgia Institute of Technology — $3,437,000
  • Claremont McKenna College (CA) — $3,444,000
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY) — $3,446,000
  • Massachusetts Maritime Academy — $3,458,000
  • Georgetown University (DC) — $3,475,000
  • Lehigh University (PA) — $3,486,000
  • Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) — $3,603,000
  • Bentley University (MA) — $3,830,000
  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA) — $3,855,000
  • Stanford University (CA) — $3,872,000
  • California Institute of Technology — $3,903,000
  • University of Pennsylvania — $3,920,000
  • Princeton University (NJ) — $3,949,000
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology — $4,484,000
  • Harvey Mudd College (CA) — $4,506,000

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