Liberal Arts and Sciences: Bentley University vs DePaul University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Bentley University
Waltham, MA
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
3.3x
$232,600 tuition
3.7x
$177,840 tuition
$774,864 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$660,716 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

Bentley University DePaul University
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.7x
4-Year Tuition $232,600 $177,840
Year 1 Earnings $72,333 $84,066
10-Year Earnings $775K $661K
Median Debt $26,000 $37,499
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 4.3 months 5.4 months
DegreeWorth Score 37/100 39/100
Acceptance Rate 48.4% 73.5%

Both programs have low AI automation risk (0% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates.

Bentley University DePaul University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $232,600 $177,840
10-Year Projected Earnings $775K $661K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 3.3x 3.7x
5-Year Salary Growth +43% +2%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Liberal Arts and Sciences (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Bentley University DePaul University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $775K $775K $750K $661K $661K $636K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.3x 3.2x 3.7x 3.7x 3.6x
DegreeWorth Score 36 37 38 38 39 41

For the full AI analysis of Liberal Arts and Sciences career paths, see the Bentley University or DePaul University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap
$54,760
DePaul University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$11,733/yr
DePaul University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
3.3x / 3.7x
Earnings multiple (10yr earnings ÷ tuition)

Career Paths

Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 13,500 +1.8% 0%
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Liberal Arts and Sciences Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Liberal Arts and Sciences: Bentley University or DePaul University?
Bentley University scores 37/100 while DePaul University scores 39/100. DePaul University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Liberal Arts and Sciences?
Bentley University has an in-state earnings multiple of 3.3x vs DePaul University's 3.7x. That means DePaul University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $54,760 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do Bentley University and DePaul University compare on Liberal Arts and Sciences earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $72,333 at Bentley University vs $84,066 at DePaul University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $774,864 vs $660,716 — a difference of $114,148.
How much does Liberal Arts and Sciences cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $232,600 at Bentley University and $177,840 at DePaul University. Median debt at graduation is $26,000 vs $37,499. Both programs lead to the same Liberal Arts and Sciences career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.