Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Massachusetts
Catholic colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Massachusetts5 schools
5 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Massachusetts.
- Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 12, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 3.0 years
- Earnings $103,937 ten years out
- 2
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.7 years
- Earnings $90,543 ten years out
- 3
Assumption University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.4 years
- Earnings $74,895 ten years out
- 4
Stonehill College
Easton, MA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.5 years
- Earnings $77,745 ten years out
- 5
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 5.6 years
- Earnings $75,584 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| College of the Holy Cross | $38,782 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| Assumption University | $29,498 | $27,000 | $74,895 | 75% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| Merrimack College | $37,927 | $27,000 | $75,584 | 70% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.