Head-to-head comparison
Long Island University vs Rockland Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Brookville, NY
Long Island University
- Net price / year
- $33,062
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,950
- Payback
- 11.4 yrs
Option B Suffern, NY
Rockland Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,282
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,243
- Payback
- 12 yrs
Long Island University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $132,248 in 11.4 years versus 12 years at Rockland Community College, on median earnings of $59,950 vs $50,243 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Long Island University | Rockland Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,062 | $11,282 |
| Total net cost | $132,248 | $22,564 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,950 | $50,243 |
| Median debt | $23,577 | $8,497 |
| Payback | 11.4 yrs | 12 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $99,552 | $15,096 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Long Island University or Rockland Community College?
Rockland Community College, at $11,282 a year after aid versus $33,062 — a gap of $21,780 a year, or $109,684 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 Long Island University or Rockland Community College graduates earn more?
Long Island University graduates report a median $59,950 ten years after entry, $9,707 more than the $50,243 at Rockland Community College. 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, Long Island University or Rockland Community College?
Rockland Community College: its completers carry a median $8,497 in federal loans versus $23,577 at Long Island University, a difference of $15,080. 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?
57% of students finish at Long Island University, against 29% at Rockland Community College. 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.