Head-to-head comparison
Hofstra University vs Eastern Suffolk BOCES: which has better ROI?
Option A Hempstead, NY
Hofstra University
- Net price / year
- $34,176
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,039
- Payback
- 6.6 yrs
Option B Sayville, NY
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
- Net price / year
- $24,557
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,394
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Eastern Suffolk BOCES has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,228 in 6.5 years versus 6.6 years at Hofstra University, on median earnings of $63,394 vs $69,039 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hofstra University | Eastern Suffolk BOCES |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,176 | $24,557 |
| Total net cost | $136,704 | $98,228 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,039 | $63,394 |
| Median debt | $23,621 | $9,500 |
| Payback | 6.6 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $276,876 | $202,452 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Hofstra University or Eastern Suffolk BOCES?
Eastern Suffolk BOCES, at $24,557 a year after aid versus $34,176 — a gap of $9,619 a year, or $38,476 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 Hofstra University or Eastern Suffolk BOCES graduates earn more?
Hofstra University graduates report a median $69,039 ten years after entry, $5,645 more than the $63,394 at Eastern Suffolk BOCES. 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, Hofstra University or Eastern Suffolk BOCES?
Eastern Suffolk BOCES: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $23,621 at Hofstra University, a difference of $14,121. 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?
77% of students finish at Eastern Suffolk BOCES, against 69% at Hofstra 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.