Head-to-head comparison
Daemen University vs Mount Saint Mary College: which has better ROI?
Option A Amherst, NY
Daemen University
- Net price / year
- $18,693
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,808
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Option B Newburgh, NY
Mount Saint Mary College
- Net price / year
- $25,522
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,705
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
Mount Saint Mary College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $102,088 in 5.3 years versus 5.6 years at Daemen University, on median earnings of $67,705 vs $61,808 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Daemen University | Mount Saint Mary College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,693 | $25,522 |
| Total net cost | $74,772 | $102,088 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,808 | $67,705 |
| Median debt | $22,091 | $26,007 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 5.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $194,188 | $284,812 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Daemen University or Mount Saint Mary College?
Daemen University, at $18,693 a year after aid versus $25,522 — a gap of $6,829 a year, or $27,316 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 Daemen University or Mount Saint Mary College graduates earn more?
Mount Saint Mary College graduates report a median $67,705 ten years after entry, $5,897 more than the $61,808 at Daemen 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, Daemen University or Mount Saint Mary College?
Daemen University: its completers carry a median $22,091 in federal loans versus $26,007 at Mount Saint Mary College, a difference of $3,916. 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?
65% of students finish at Mount Saint Mary College, against 59% at Daemen 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.