Head-to-head comparison
Binghamton University vs Colgate 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 Hamilton, NY
Colgate University
- Net price / year
- $28,786
- Earnings, 10 years
- $85,139
- Payback
- 3.1 yrs
Binghamton University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $86,480 in 2.7 years versus 3.1 years at Colgate University, on median earnings of $80,596 vs $85,139 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Binghamton University | Colgate University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,620 | $28,786 |
| Total net cost | $86,480 | $115,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,596 | $85,139 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $15,000 |
| Payback | 2.7 yrs | 3.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $558,240 | $620,436 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Binghamton University or Colgate University?
Binghamton University, at $21,620 a year after aid versus $28,786 — a gap of $7,166 a year, or $28,664 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 Colgate University graduates earn more?
Colgate University graduates report a median $85,139 ten years after entry, $4,543 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 Colgate University?
Colgate University: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $18,500 at Binghamton University, a difference of $3,500. 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?
91% of students finish at Colgate University, against 82% at Binghamton 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.