Head-to-head comparison
Empire State University vs Ithaca College: which has better ROI?
Option A Saratoga Springs, NY
Empire State University
- Net price / year
- $11,676
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,080
- Payback
- 8.2 yrs
Option B Ithaca, NY
Ithaca College
- Net price / year
- $33,926
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,548
- Payback
- 8.9 yrs
Empire State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $46,704 in 8.2 years versus 8.9 years at Ithaca College, on median earnings of $54,080 vs $63,548 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Empire State University | Ithaca College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,676 | $33,926 |
| Total net cost | $46,704 | $135,704 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,080 | $63,548 |
| Median debt | $18,730 | $24,000 |
| Payback | 8.2 yrs | 8.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $67,696 | $168,056 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Empire State University or Ithaca College?
Empire State University, at $11,676 a year after aid versus $33,926 — a gap of $22,250 a year, or $89,000 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 Empire State University or Ithaca College graduates earn more?
Ithaca College graduates report a median $63,548 ten years after entry, $9,468 more than the $54,080 at Empire State 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, Empire State University or Ithaca College?
Empire State University: its completers carry a median $18,730 in federal loans versus $24,000 at Ithaca College, a difference of $5,270. 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?
76% of students finish at Ithaca College, against 41% at Empire State 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.