Head-to-head comparison
Nazareth University vs Alfred University: which has better ROI?
Option A Rochester, NY
Nazareth University
- Net price / year
- $29,357
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,458
- Payback
- 14.5 yrs
Option B Alfred, NY
Alfred University
- Net price / year
- $25,620
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,897
- Payback
- 15.7 yrs
Nazareth University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $117,428 in 14.5 years versus 15.7 years at Alfred University, on median earnings of $56,458 vs $54,897 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Nazareth University | Alfred University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,357 | $25,620 |
| Total net cost | $117,428 | $102,480 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,458 | $54,897 |
| Median debt | $26,038 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 14.5 yrs | 15.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $44,532 | $28,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Nazareth University or Alfred University?
Alfred University, at $25,620 a year after aid versus $29,357 — a gap of $3,737 a year, or $14,948 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 Nazareth University or Alfred University graduates earn more?
Nazareth University graduates report a median $56,458 ten years after entry, $1,561 more than the $54,897 at Alfred 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, Nazareth University or Alfred University?
Alfred University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,038 at Nazareth University, a difference of $38. 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?
73% of students finish at Nazareth University, against 57% at Alfred 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.