Head-to-head comparison
Long Island University vs SUNY Buffalo State University: 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 Buffalo, NY
SUNY Buffalo State University
- Net price / year
- $11,346
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,334
- Payback
- 11.4 yrs
Long Island University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $132,248 in 11.4 years versus 11.4 years at SUNY Buffalo State University, on median earnings of $59,950 vs $52,334 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Long Island University | SUNY Buffalo State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,062 | $11,346 |
| Total net cost | $132,248 | $45,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,950 | $52,334 |
| Median debt | $23,577 | $21,028 |
| Payback | 11.4 yrs | 11.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $99,552 | $34,096 |
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 SUNY Buffalo State University?
SUNY Buffalo State University, at $11,346 a year after aid versus $33,062 — a gap of $21,716 a year, or $86,864 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 SUNY Buffalo State University graduates earn more?
Long Island University graduates report a median $59,950 ten years after entry, $7,616 more than the $52,334 at SUNY Buffalo 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, Long Island University or SUNY Buffalo State University?
SUNY Buffalo State University: its completers carry a median $21,028 in federal loans versus $23,577 at Long Island University, a difference of $2,549. 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 33% at SUNY Buffalo 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.