Curry College
Milton, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 87.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Curry College scores 45 (Below Average Value) — a predictable result given a $47,970 sticker price, a 51.1% completion rate, and median 6-year earnings of $44,800. The 13.2-year payback period means that the average graduate does not recoup total net costs until their mid-30s. Registered Nursing (188 graduates, $79,242 year-one, $92,783 year-four, B+ ROI grade) is the clear outlier that saves the school from a worse score. Outside of nursing, outcomes are weak: Psychology (56 graduates) earns $33,077 year-one with a 0.816 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade); Communication (30 graduates) earns $27,516 year-one with a 0.945 ratio (D grade). Median debt of $25,000 is high relative to what most graduates earn. The repayment rate of 77% (three-year) is better than expected given earnings levels, but the underlying pattern is clear — Curry is a financially risky choice for most students who are not committed to nursing. The college's historical emphasis on students with learning differences is a distinct institutional identity, but that identity does not change the ROI calculus.
Curry College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $47,970/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $47,970/yr |
| Average net price | $29,207/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $116,828 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,400 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 51.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,780 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Curry College is $47,970/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $29,207/year, or roughly $116,828 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $23,806/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,973/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $265 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $54,400 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.56 - 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 | $23,806 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,372 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,827 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $32,286 |
| $110,001+ | $33,973 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $23,806 per year at Curry — a strikingly high figure for this income bracket at a non-selective private. Over four years that approaches $95,000. Given that only 51.1% of students complete and median 6-year earnings are $44,800, the financial risk for low-income students who do not enter nursing is severe. Pell-eligible students have better alternatives in the Massachusetts public system at a fraction of this cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $26,827 per year, and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $32,286. These are high figures for a school with Curry's outcomes profile. A middle-income family spending $107,000-129,000 on a Curry degree for a non-nursing student faces a 13+ year payback on the median outcome. The financial model does not reward the investment outside of nursing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $33,973 net price per year — roughly $136,000 over four years. At a 13.2-year payback period and $44,800 median 6-year earnings, the full-pay case for Curry is weak for most programs. Only nursing graduates can reasonably justify this expense. High-income families choosing Curry for its learning-disability support services should be clear-eyed that the financial trade-off is real.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Curry College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $92,783 | B+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $64,406 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,677 | C |
| Psychology | $50,496 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $52,041 | D |
| Biology | $46,736 | C |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $29,532 | - |
| Education, General | $49,250 | - |
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $62,052 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is the singular reason to consider Curry: 188 graduates, $79,242 median year-one earnings, $92,783 at year four, with a B+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.341). Median debt of $27,000 is on the high end for this field, but earnings absorb it quickly. At $47,970 sticker tuition and $29,207 net price, nursing graduates are roughly at break-even with what they'd expect from a less expensive public nursing program. The outcome is solid; the price is not a bargain.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (63 graduates) earns $45,103 year-one and $64,406 year-four with a C ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.554). Median debt of $25,000 against year-one earnings of $45,103 produces a reasonable near-term ratio, but the four-year figure of $64,406 represents a modest ceiling for a field where Curry's credential carries limited brand weight. Students targeting law enforcement or corrections should model whether a lower-cost regional public would produce comparable outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (57 graduates) earns $43,617 year-one and $68,677 year-four with a C ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.619). The year-four trajectory is plausible but not strong — $68,677 after four years represents average performance for a business graduate from a non-selective private institution. Median debt of $27,000 against these earnings is manageable but leaves little margin. Students with strong business ambitions would be better served by a lower-cost public or a more selective private.
Psychology
Psychology (56 graduates) earns $33,077 year-one and $50,496 year-four, with a D ROI grade and 0.816 debt-to-earnings ratio. Median debt of $27,000 against $33,077 year-one earnings is a poor financial position. This program, at $47,970 tuition, does not produce returns that justify the cost relative to alternatives. Psychology as a terminal undergraduate degree typically requires graduate training for professional licensure; the Scorecard does not capture those outcomes or additional costs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 87.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-620 |
| Enrollment | 1,780 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,385 |
An 87.7% admission rate makes Curry effectively open-access. Test scores in the 520-620 range confirm the school is not selective. Net price by income ranges from $23,806 (lowest bracket) to $33,973 (highest) — notably, low-income students pay nearly as much as high-income students, which is unusual and financially disadvantageous for the school's Pell-eligible population. Families should use the net price calculator carefully; the financial aid model does not scale down aggressively for low-income students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Curry's Scorecard peer group includes American International College, Amherst College (not a meaningful comparable), Bob Jones University, Felician University, and Central Methodist University. Among private non-selective peers in Massachusetts and the Northeast, Curry's 51.1% completion rate and $44,800 median earnings are below the regional average. Felician University has a comparable profile; both schools derive most of their ROI value from nursing programs. Curry's price point — $47,970 sticker — is notably high for the outcomes it delivers outside of nursing.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curry College (this school) | 45 | $29,207 | $54,400 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies | 43 | $14,601 | $48,991 |
| Felician University | 40 | $40,045 | $57,602 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
Who Thrives Here
Curry admits 87.7% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 520-610 Math and 530-620 Reading (ACT data not reported). Enrollment stands at 1,780. The Pell grant rate of 30.9% indicates a mixed-income student body. Curry has long served students with learning disabilities and nontraditional learners — students who may not have succeeded at more selective institutions. For those students, the nursing program offers a genuine pathway to a solid outcome. Non-nursing students face a difficult ROI environment at this price point.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Curry College is mixed. At $29,207 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $54,400 ten years after entry - a payback period of 13.2 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 51.1% graduation rate and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,000 against $54,400 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.