Fisher College
Boston, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 70.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 23/100 · Poor Value
Fisher College, a small private nonprofit located in Boston's Back Bay, posts a Poor Value ROI score of 23/100. The composite is dragged down hard by a 27.8% completion rate - among the lowest in the four-year nonprofit sector - and a 0.772 debt-to-earnings ratio. Sticker tuition is $35,689 and the average net price after aid lands at $26,649, totaling $106,596 over four years. Median earnings six years after entry are just $32,400, climbing to $49,669 by year ten - modest in absolute terms and especially modest given Boston's cost of living. Median federal debt is $25,000 and the 16.8-year payback period reflects how thin the earnings margin is over loan obligations. The 59.7% three-year repayment rate is well below the threshold for financial health. Fisher's downtown location and small-class promise are real, but the federal numbers indicate that for most students, this is a high-risk borrowing decision.
The data raises concerns about Fisher College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score23/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate27.8% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period16.8 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Fisher College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,689/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,689/yr |
| Average net price | $26,649/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $106,596 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,669 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 27.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,167 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Fisher College is $35,689/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $26,649/year, or roughly $106,596 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $25,071/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,661/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 $49,669 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.77 - 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 | $25,071 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,267 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,168 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,511 |
| $110,001+ | $30,661 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $25,071 net per year, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $25,267. Pell and Massachusetts state aid help, but four-year out-of-pocket cost still lands above $100,000. That's an enormous risk against the $32,400 six-year median earnings figure.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $27,168 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $26,511 (a slight inversion). The brackets are notably flat, meaning Fisher offers limited need-based discounting. Middle-income families essentially pay close to sticker.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $30,661 per year, about $122,644 over four years. Effectively full-pay. For families paying these dollars, the value case rests entirely on the urban Boston experience and small classes; the financial math does not support the cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Fisher College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Human Services, General | $48,902 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,576 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $80,136 | C |
| Psychology | $41,644 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $63,505 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,535 | D |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $36,306 | D |
| Accounting | $85,199 | - |
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.
Human Services, General
Human Services is Fisher's largest reported cohort (33 grads) and earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $35,289 against $29,935 of median debt yield a 0.848 debt-to-earnings ratio. Career paths into Massachusetts state agencies and Boston-area nonprofits are stable but wage trajectories are flat. PSLF can partially offset for graduates in qualifying nonprofit roles.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (32 grads) is the strongest large program: C ROI grade, $53,754 in first-year earnings rising to $69,576 by year four, $31,375 median debt, 0.584 debt-to-earnings ratio. Boston metro Business pipelines into financial services, retail management, and small-business operations support the placement.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (22 grads) earns a C ROI grade. First-year earnings of $45,695 climb to $80,136 by year four - the second-highest four-year figure on Fisher's program list. Massachusetts municipal and state law enforcement starting salaries explain the strong wage growth. This program is one of Fisher's clearest value propositions.
Psychology
Psychology (13 grads) earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $36,873 and a 0.732 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four-year earnings of just $41,644 are notably low and confirm the typical bachelor's-terminal Psychology outcome: limited career progression without graduate study.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health Administration (7 grads) earns a C ROI grade. First-year earnings of $61,133 against $36,000 of median debt produce a 0.589 ratio. Boston's hospital system actively hires for medical office administration, supporting solid placement at modest cohort size.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 59.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 49.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 70.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,167 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,855 |
Fisher admits 70.7% of applicants and does not report SAT or ACT mid-ranges, having moved fully test-optional. The relatively high admit rate combined with the absence of test data signals limited academic filtering, which correlates with the catastrophic 27.8% completion rate. Students with stronger high-school records or specific career intent (Criminal Justice for police academy paths, for example) tend to drive the upper end of completion outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Fisher's peer set is a strange mix: American International College and Mary Baldwin University are reasonable comparisons (small private nonprofits with similar ROI profiles), but Amherst College is an obvious outlier - one of the highest-endowment liberal arts colleges in the country and not a meaningful comparison on outcomes. Converse University and William Woods University are also small privates serving regional markets with similar Below Average to Poor Value ROI patterns. Boston-area students would get materially better outcomes at Bunker Hill Community College plus transfer to UMass Boston.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fisher College (this school) | 23 | $26,649 | $49,669 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
| William Woods University | 26 | $26,569 | $42,401 |
| Mary Baldwin University | 25 | $12,756 | $44,427 |
| Converse University | 21 | $23,283 | $40,867 |
Who Thrives Here
Pell rate of 39.7% and enrollment of 1,167 mark Fisher as a small, urban, mid-income leaning private. The Back Bay Boston location attracts students wanting a city college experience and small classes. Strongest outcomes come from Business Administration (32 grads, C ROI grade, $69,576 four-year earnings) and Criminal Justice (22 grads, C grade, with the relatively high $80,136 four-year earnings reflecting Massachusetts state and municipal hiring). Students considering Fisher should run loan math against Massachusetts public alternatives.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Fisher College. With a net cost of $26,649 per year and median graduate earnings of only $49,669 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 16.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 27.8% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,000 against $49,669 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.