Head-to-head comparison
Binghamton University vs Clarkson University: which has better ROI?
Option A Vestal, NY
Binghamton University
- Net price / year
- $21,620
- Earnings, 10 years
- $80,596
- Payback
- 2.7 yrs
Option B Potsdam, NY
Clarkson University
- Net price / year
- $30,305
- Earnings, 10 years
- $89,696
- Payback
- 2.9 yrs
Binghamton University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $86,480 in 2.7 years versus 2.9 years at Clarkson University, on median earnings of $80,596 vs $89,696 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Binghamton University | Clarkson University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,620 | $30,305 |
| Total net cost | $86,480 | $121,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,596 | $89,696 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 2.7 yrs | 2.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $558,240 | $705,500 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Binghamton University or Clarkson University?
Binghamton University, at $21,620 a year after aid versus $30,305 — a gap of $8,685 a year, or $34,740 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Binghamton University or Clarkson University graduates earn more?
Clarkson University graduates report a median $89,696 ten years after entry, $9,100 more than the $80,596 at Binghamton University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Binghamton University or Clarkson University?
Binghamton University: its completers carry a median $18,500 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Clarkson University, a difference of $7,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
82% of students finish at Binghamton University, against 75% at Clarkson University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.