Head-to-head comparison
Marist University vs Vassar College: which has better ROI?
Option A Poughkeepsie, NY
Marist University
- Net price / year
- $41,544
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,819
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Option B Poughkeepsie, NY
Vassar College
- Net price / year
- $39,343
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,366
- Payback
- 6.8 yrs
Marist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $166,176 in 5.6 years versus 6.8 years at Vassar College, on median earnings of $77,819 vs $71,366 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Marist University | Vassar College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,544 | $39,343 |
| Total net cost | $166,176 | $157,372 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $77,819 | $71,366 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $18,625 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 6.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $423,004 | $302,748 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Marist University or Vassar College?
Vassar College, at $39,343 a year after aid versus $41,544 — a gap of $2,201 a year, or $8,804 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 Marist University or Vassar College graduates earn more?
Marist University graduates report a median $77,819 ten years after entry, $6,453 more than the $71,366 at Vassar 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, Marist University or Vassar College?
Vassar College: its completers carry a median $18,625 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Marist University, a difference of $6,375. 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 Vassar College, against 80% at Marist 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.