Head-to-head comparison
Rochester Institute of Technology vs Trocaire 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 Buffalo, NY
Trocaire College
- Net price / year
- $16,636
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,318
- Payback
- 4.8 yrs
Trocaire College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $33,272 in 4.8 years versus 4.9 years at Rochester Institute of Technology, on median earnings of $55,318 vs $76,571 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rochester Institute of Technology | Trocaire College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,906 | $16,636 |
| Total net cost | $139,624 | $33,272 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $76,571 | $55,318 |
| Median debt | $26,778 | $20,000 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 4.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $424,596 | $105,888 |
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 Trocaire College?
Trocaire College, at $16,636 a year after aid versus $34,906 — a gap of $18,270 a year, or $106,352 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 Trocaire College graduates earn more?
Rochester Institute of Technology graduates report a median $76,571 ten years after entry, $21,253 more than the $55,318 at Trocaire 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 Trocaire College?
Trocaire College: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $26,778 at Rochester Institute of Technology, a difference of $6,778. 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 31% at Trocaire 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.