Head-to-head comparison
Rockland Community College vs St Bonaventure University: which has better ROI?
Option A Suffern, NY
Rockland Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,282
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,243
- Payback
- 12 yrs
Option B Saint Bonaventure, NY
St Bonaventure University
- Net price / year
- $27,074
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,214
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
Rockland Community College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $22,564 in 12 years versus 12.2 years at St Bonaventure University, on median earnings of $50,243 vs $57,214 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rockland Community College | St Bonaventure University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,282 | $27,074 |
| Total net cost | $22,564 | $108,296 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,243 | $57,214 |
| Median debt | $8,497 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 12 yrs | 12.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $15,096 | $68,784 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rockland Community College or St Bonaventure University?
Rockland Community College, at $11,282 a year after aid versus $27,074 — a gap of $15,792 a year, or $85,732 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 Rockland Community College or St Bonaventure University graduates earn more?
St Bonaventure University graduates report a median $57,214 ten years after entry, $6,971 more than the $50,243 at Rockland 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, Rockland Community College or St Bonaventure University?
Rockland Community College: its completers carry a median $8,497 in federal loans versus $26,000 at St Bonaventure University, a difference of $17,503. 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?
67% of students finish at St Bonaventure University, against 29% at Rockland 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.