Head-to-head comparison
Hamilton College vs Maria College of Albany: which has better ROI?
Option A Clinton, NY
Hamilton College
- Net price / year
- $28,985
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,411
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
Option B Albany, NY
Maria College of Albany
- Net price / year
- $13,082
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,458
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Maria College of Albany has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $26,164 in 3.7 years versus 3.9 years at Hamilton College, on median earnings of $55,458 vs $78,411 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hamilton College | Maria College of Albany |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,985 | $13,082 |
| Total net cost | $115,940 | $26,164 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,411 | $55,458 |
| Median debt | $17,000 | $20,528 |
| Payback | 3.9 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $485,080 | $115,796 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Hamilton College or Maria College of Albany?
Maria College of Albany, at $13,082 a year after aid versus $28,985 — a gap of $15,903 a year, or $89,776 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 Hamilton College or Maria College of Albany graduates earn more?
Hamilton College graduates report a median $78,411 ten years after entry, $22,953 more than the $55,458 at Maria College of Albany. 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, Hamilton College or Maria College of Albany?
Hamilton College: its completers carry a median $17,000 in federal loans versus $20,528 at Maria College of Albany, a difference of $3,528. 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 Hamilton College, against 30% at Maria College of Albany. 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.