Head-to-head comparison
Monroe Community College vs St. John Fisher University: which has better ROI?
Option A Rochester, NY
Monroe Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,353
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,174
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Rochester, NY
St. John Fisher University
- Net price / year
- $28,945
- Earnings, 10 years
- $66,944
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
St. John Fisher University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $115,780 in 6.2 years versus not at all at Monroe Community College, on median earnings of $66,944 vs $40,174 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Monroe Community College | St. John Fisher University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,353 | $28,945 |
| Total net cost | $12,706 | $115,780 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,174 | $66,944 |
| Median debt | $9,750 | $23,250 |
| Payback | — | 6.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$176,426 | $255,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Monroe Community College or St. John Fisher University?
Monroe Community College, at $6,353 a year after aid versus $28,945 — a gap of $22,592 a year, or $103,074 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 Monroe Community College or St. John Fisher University graduates earn more?
St. John Fisher University graduates report a median $66,944 ten years after entry, $26,770 more than the $40,174 at Monroe 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, Monroe Community College or St. John Fisher University?
Monroe Community College: its completers carry a median $9,750 in federal loans versus $23,250 at St. John Fisher University, a difference of $13,500. 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?
74% of students finish at St. John Fisher University, against 27% at Monroe 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.