Colby-Sawyer College vs Franklin Pierce University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Colby-Sawyer College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Franklin Pierce University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Colby-Sawyer College at $27,671 vs Franklin Pierce University at $25,443. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $51,526 vs $53,150.
| Metric | Colby-Sawyer College | Franklin Pierce University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Nh | Nh |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $27,671 | $25,443* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $51,526 | $53,150* |
| Majors Tracked | 19 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (77/100) | Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences (78/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $29,506 | $27,438* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $62,000 | $62,000 |
Colby-Sawyer College has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Franklin Pierce University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Colby-Sawyer College at $27,671 vs Franklin Pierce University at $25,443. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $51,526 vs $53,150.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
Average median debt is roughly even across Colby-Sawyer College and Franklin Pierce University. The cost side of the comparison effectively cancels out; the meaningful question becomes whether the program mix and the earnings outcomes differ enough to break the tie.
Earnings outcomes track closely — Colby-Sawyer College and Franklin Pierce University graduates report similar first-year wages. The school decision in cases like this is usually decided on non-financial axes (program quality, geography, fit) since the ROI math runs close enough to be inside the noise.
Both schools sit in Nh, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.