Head-to-head comparison
Post University vs Cortiva Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Waterbury, CT
Post University
- Net price / year
- $21,634
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,696
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Cromwell, CT
Cortiva Institute
- Net price / year
- $34,436
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,866
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Post University comes closer — median earnings $38,696 against a $86,536 total, vs $34,866 at Cortiva Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Post University | Cortiva Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,634 | $34,436 |
| Total net cost | $86,536 | $137,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,696 | $34,866 |
| Median debt | $30,157 | $11,259 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$279,816 | -$407,624 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Post University or Cortiva Institute?
Post University, at $21,634 a year after aid versus $34,436 — a gap of $12,802 a year, or $51,208 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 Post University or Cortiva Institute graduates earn more?
Post University graduates report a median $38,696 ten years after entry, $3,830 more than the $34,866 at Cortiva Institute. 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, Post University or Cortiva Institute?
Cortiva Institute: its completers carry a median $11,259 in federal loans versus $30,157 at Post University, a difference of $18,898. 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?
85% of students finish at Cortiva Institute, against 25% at Post 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.