Head-to-head comparison
Niagara University vs Russell Sage College: which has better ROI?
Option A Niagara University, NY
Niagara University
- Net price / year
- $17,248
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,196
- Payback
- 8.8 yrs
Option B Troy, NY
Russell Sage College
- Net price / year
- $22,917
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,316
- Payback
- 9.2 yrs
Niagara University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $68,992 in 8.8 years versus 9.2 years at Russell Sage College, on median earnings of $56,196 vs $58,316 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Niagara University | Russell Sage College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,248 | $22,917 |
| Total net cost | $68,992 | $91,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,196 | $58,316 |
| Median debt | $25,475 | $22,000 |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | 9.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $87,728 | $107,452 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Niagara University or Russell Sage College?
Niagara University, at $17,248 a year after aid versus $22,917 — a gap of $5,669 a year, or $22,676 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 Niagara University or Russell Sage College graduates earn more?
Russell Sage College graduates report a median $58,316 ten years after entry, $2,120 more than the $56,196 at Niagara 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, Niagara University or Russell Sage College?
Russell Sage College: its completers carry a median $22,000 in federal loans versus $25,475 at Niagara University, a difference of $3,475. 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?
75% of students finish at Niagara University, against 56% at Russell Sage 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.