Head-to-head comparison
Rochester Institute of Technology vs Monroe Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Rochester, NY
Rochester Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $34,906
- Earnings, 10 years
- $76,571
- Payback
- 4.9 yrs
Option B Rochester, NY
Monroe Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,353
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,174
- Payback
- No payback
Rochester Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $139,624 in 4.9 years versus not at all at Monroe Community College, on median earnings of $76,571 vs $40,174 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rochester Institute of Technology | Monroe Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,906 | $6,353 |
| Total net cost | $139,624 | $12,706 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $76,571 | $40,174 |
| Median debt | $26,778 | $9,750 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $424,596 | -$176,426 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rochester Institute of Technology or Monroe Community College?
Monroe Community College, at $6,353 a year after aid versus $34,906 — a gap of $28,553 a year, or $126,918 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 Rochester Institute of Technology or Monroe Community College graduates earn more?
Rochester Institute of Technology graduates report a median $76,571 ten years after entry, $36,397 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, Rochester Institute of Technology or Monroe Community College?
Monroe Community College: its completers carry a median $9,750 in federal loans versus $26,778 at Rochester Institute of Technology, a difference of $17,028. 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?
70% of students finish at Rochester Institute of Technology, 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.