Head-to-head comparison
New York University vs Wagner College: which has better ROI?
Option A New York, NY
New York University
- Net price / year
- $37,050
- Earnings, 10 years
- $82,509
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
Option B Staten Island, NY
Wagner College
- Net price / year
- $28,241
- Earnings, 10 years
- $74,360
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
New York University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $148,200 in 4.3 years versus 4.3 years at Wagner College, on median earnings of $82,509 vs $74,360 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | New York University | Wagner College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,050 | $28,241 |
| Total net cost | $148,200 | $112,964 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $82,509 | $74,360 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | 4.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $534,780 | $407,036 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, New York University or Wagner College?
Wagner College, at $28,241 a year after aid versus $37,050 — a gap of $8,809 a year, or $35,236 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 New York University or Wagner College graduates earn more?
New York University graduates report a median $82,509 ten years after entry, $8,149 more than the $74,360 at Wagner 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, New York University or Wagner College?
New York University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Wagner College, a difference of $4,500. 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?
88% of students finish at New York University, against 65% at Wagner 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.