Cambridge College
Boston, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 21/100 · Poor Value
Cambridge College is a small Boston-based adult-serving private nonprofit that scores 21 on the CampusROI framework, landing in Poor Value tier. The school's profile is similar to other working-adult institutions: tuition is $18,378, but net price is $31,072 (net-exceeds-tuition flag, reflecting fees and limited aid). Total 4-year cost is $124,288. Median 6-year earnings of $36,400 climb modestly to $45,998 at 10 years, with a 24-year payback period that effectively means earnings struggle to recoup cost on a traditional discount basis. Median debt is moderate at $21,791 and debt-to-earnings is 0.599. The crushing subscores are completion (11.1%) and three-year repayment (40.8%), both characteristic of part-time adult-learner populations whose Scorecard metrics are distorted by the federal definitions. The institution effectively functions as a credentialing and career-advancement engine for working adults in education, human services, and management; the four-year-cohort framing the federal data uses badly fits this model. Cambridge College's actual student value depends on cost recovery through career advancement, not the federal earnings premium calculation.
The data raises concerns about Cambridge College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score21/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate11.1% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period24 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Cambridge College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $18,378/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,378/yr |
| Average net price | $31,072/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $124,288 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,998 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,791 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $231 |
| Estimated payback period | 24 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 11.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 532 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Cambridge College is $18,378/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $31,072/year, or roughly $124,288 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of N/A/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $21,791 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $231 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,998 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.60 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | N/A |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,072 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Net price data for $0-$30,000 households is null, a significant data gap. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket reports $31,072, the school's overall average. The data sparsity reflects how small the published cohorts are; only one income bracket has published net price. Low-income families should use the school's net-price calculator for individualized figures.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Net price for $48,001-$75,000 and $75,001-$110,000 brackets are both null. This is a multi-bracket data gap that limits any conclusion about income-based pricing. Middle-income families should treat the $31,072 figure as a single-point estimate and validate via the calculator. Net price exceeding stated tuition is a clear signal of limited institutional aid.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price for $110,000-plus households is null. The complete absence of bracketed data across most income tiers is unusual and suggests very small reporting cohorts in each bracket. High-income families should expect to pay close to the $31,072 published figure with limited institutional discount.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Cambridge College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,332 | B |
| Human Services, General | $55,038 | D |
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 Cambridge College's largest program with 54 graduates, posting $64,502 in 1-year earnings and $56,332 at year four. The 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B grade against $27,083 of debt. Unusually, 1-year earnings exceed 4-year earnings, a pattern consistent with working adults who already had strong jobs when they enrolled and whose post-credential progression is incremental rather than transformative. The credential is a pay-bump enabler for the working population it serves.
Human Services, General
Human Services graduates 24 students with $44,287 in 1-year earnings and $55,038 at year four. The 0.734 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D grade against $32,524 of debt. The earnings curve from $44K to $55K is healthy and reflects Boston-area social services and case management pay scales, but $32K of debt is high for the wage trajectory, and many human-services graduates pursue master's-level credentialing that compounds debt. Plan for additional certification.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 35.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 40.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 47.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 51.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 532 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,333 |
Admission rate is not reported, consistent with Cambridge College's open-enrollment adult-learner posture. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported because the school does not require standardized testing. Cambridge College's admissions function is effectively credentials-and-experience-based: working adults with some college background and a defined career goal are the target. The 11.1% completion rate is a population artifact, not an academic one.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Cambridge College's Scorecard peer set is uneven. American International College is the closest direct peer, another adult-serving Massachusetts private with similar metrics. Amherst College is an obvious category-mismatch peer (selective liberal arts, no useful comparison). Manhattan School of Music, Universidad Central de Bayamon, and Cleveland Institute of Art are also weak peers. Within the directly comparable Massachusetts adult-learner private set, Cambridge College and AIC share the same structural challenges around federal completion metrics; both effectively serve as credentialing engines.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge College (this school) | 21 | $31,072 | $45,998 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
| Cleveland Institute of Art | 23 | $29,208 | $42,509 |
| Manhattan School of Music | 20 | $51,754 | $26,878 |
| Universidad Central de Bayamon | 20 | $4,827 | $25,021 |
Who Thrives Here
Cambridge College fits working adults in the Greater Boston area pursuing teaching licensure, master's-level education credentials, human services, or counseling careers. With 532 students and a 30% Pell rate, the population is small and modestly low-income. Strong fits are mid-career professionals who need a credential to qualify for management or licensed roles, particularly with employer tuition support. Weaker fits are traditional 18-22 students, who have far better options in the Boston-area higher ed market (UMass Boston, Bunker Hill plus transfer, etc.).
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Cambridge College. With a net cost of $31,072 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,998 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 24 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 11.1% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,791 against $45,998 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s 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.