Head-to-head comparison
Empire State University vs Skidmore 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 Saratoga Springs, NY
Skidmore College
- Net price / year
- $32,297
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,363
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
Skidmore College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $129,188 in 6.2 years versus 8.2 years at Empire State University, on median earnings of $69,363 vs $54,080 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Empire State University | Skidmore College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,676 | $32,297 |
| Total net cost | $46,704 | $129,188 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,080 | $69,363 |
| Median debt | $18,730 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 8.2 yrs | 6.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $67,696 | $290,872 |
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 Skidmore College?
Empire State University, at $11,676 a year after aid versus $32,297 — a gap of $20,621 a year, or $82,484 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 Skidmore College graduates earn more?
Skidmore College graduates report a median $69,363 ten years after entry, $15,283 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 Skidmore College?
Empire State University: its completers carry a median $18,730 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Skidmore College, a difference of $770. 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?
83% of students finish at Skidmore 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.