Bay Path University
Longmeadow, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 85.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Bay Path University earns an ROI score of 52 in the Below Average Value tier. Two metrics drag the overall score down hard: a 43.9% completion rate (subscore 28) and a 63.8% repayment rate (subscore 24). Median 10-year earnings of $55,383 and a 9.7-year payback are reasonable for graduates who finish, but with $24,901 in median debt and a 0.673 debt-to-earnings ratio, those who don't complete are left with debt and no degree. Sticker tuition is $38,302 but generous Pell-driven aid pulls the four-year out-of-pocket cost to roughly $57,084. The story here: when Bay Path works for a student, it works decently, but the completion risk is the dominant variable and high-Pell, lower-academic-prep students must take that seriously.
Bay Path University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,302/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,302/yr |
| Average net price | $14,271/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $57,084 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,383 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,901 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $264 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 43.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,108 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $38,302/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $14,271/year, or roughly $57,084 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,948/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,475/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,901, which works out to about $264 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,000) and comes to 0.67, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,948 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,251 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,698 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,528 |
| $110,001+ | $25,475 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Four-year out-of-pocket cost is around $47,800. With 63.8% Pell enrollment, this is the dominant population on campus and the math works for completers, but the school's 43.9% completion rate is the real risk variable.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays just $12,698 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket jumps to $17,528. That's $50,800 to $70,100 over four years, materially below the published $57,084 average for the lower bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households over $110,000 pay $25,475 per year, $101,900 over four years, the steepest tier on campus. With median 10-year earnings of $55,383, the math is much tighter for full-pay families, and the relatively weak completion rate compounds the risk.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Bay Path University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $74,912 | C |
| Psychology | $53,682 | D |
| Biology | $55,827 | C |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $65,018 | C+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $47,544 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $37,411 | D |
| Education, General | $47,941 | - |
| Security Science and Technology | $56,262 | D |
| Teacher Education | $48,431 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $68,194 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the school's largest program with 72 graduates and earns a C ROI grade. First-year earnings of $54,260 are notably strong and four-year earnings reach $74,912, the highest on campus. But $32,015 in median debt and a 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio drag the grade down. For students who complete, this program produces solid Massachusetts-market earnings outcomes.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D ROI grade with 35 graduates and a 0.749 debt-to-earnings ratio. First-year earnings of $38,960 grow to $53,682 by year four, a respectable trajectory, but $29,162 in median debt is heavy for the field.
Biology
Biology earns a C ROI grade with 28 graduates. The 0.659 debt-to-earnings ratio is roughly average. As with psychology, biology's strongest outcomes here likely come from graduates moving into nursing bridge programs or graduate health programs.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Health Sciences earns a C+ ROI grade with 27 graduates. Four-year earnings of $65,018 are strong, the second-highest at the school, but $35,320 in median debt is the heaviest in the program list. A 0.543 debt-to-earnings ratio is workable, especially for graduates moving into clinical roles with stable wage progression.
Research and Experimental Psychology
Research and Experimental Psychology earns an F ROI grade with 27 graduates. First-year earnings are $23,898 and four-year earnings of $47,544 against $29,401 in median debt produce a 1.23 debt-to-earnings ratio, students owe more than 120% of annual earnings. This program only makes sense as a stepping stone to graduate work in research psychology, the bachelor's-only path is financially difficult.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 58.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 61.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Bay Path University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 85.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-610 |
| Enrollment | 1,108 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 63.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,202 |
Bay Path admits 85.2% of applicants, an open-access posture. SAT mid-50% bands run 520-600 math and 490-610 reading. ACT data is not reported. The wide reading band and lack of ACT visibility suggest a heterogeneous applicant pool. The combination of high admission rate and 43.9% completion rate is the structural challenge here, the school accepts most applicants but graduates fewer than half of them.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Path University (this school) | 52 | $14,271 | $55,383 |
| Mount Holyoke College | 60 | $26,441 | $58,418 |
| Cedar Crest College | 58 | $18,659 | $59,460 |
| Agnes Scott College | 45 | $24,754 | $56,274 |
| Sweet Briar College | 44 | $17,758 | $51,943 |
| Meredith College | 43 | $22,488 | $51,539 |
Who Thrives Here
Bay Path is a small (1,108 students) women-focused private with a 63.8% Pell rate, the highest indicator in the metrics package. It fits Pell-eligible students who can commit to completing on schedule, particularly in Business Administration (largest program), Health Sciences, and Computer Science. The $14,271 average net price is genuinely accessible, but the 43.9% completion rate means students should walk in with a clear academic plan and family support, dropping out costs nearly as much as completing.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Bay Path University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $14,271 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,383 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 43.9% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 63.8% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $24,901 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Bay Path University: Common Questions
Is Bay Path University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Bay Path University scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,271 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $55,383 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Bay Path University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $14,271 a year, or roughly $57,084 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Bay Path University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,383 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,583 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Bay Path University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.7 years for Bay Path University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Bay Path University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,901, against average earnings of $37,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Bay Path University?
The six-year graduation rate is 43.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.