Head-to-head comparison
Mercy University vs Alfred University: which has better ROI?
Option A Dobbs Ferry, NY
Mercy University
- Net price / year
- $14,072
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,055
- Payback
- 15.2 yrs
Option B Alfred, NY
Alfred University
- Net price / year
- $25,620
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,897
- Payback
- 15.7 yrs
Mercy University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $56,288 in 15.2 years versus 15.7 years at Alfred University, on median earnings of $52,055 vs $54,897 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mercy University | Alfred University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,072 | $25,620 |
| Total net cost | $56,288 | $102,480 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,055 | $54,897 |
| Median debt | $19,637 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 15.2 yrs | 15.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $17,612 | $28,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mercy University or Alfred University?
Mercy University, at $14,072 a year after aid versus $25,620 — a gap of $11,548 a year, or $46,192 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 Mercy University or Alfred University graduates earn more?
Alfred University graduates report a median $54,897 ten years after entry, $2,842 more than the $52,055 at Mercy 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, Mercy University or Alfred University?
Mercy University: its completers carry a median $19,637 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Alfred University, a difference of $6,363. 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 Alfred University, against 46% at Mercy 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.