Head-to-head comparison
Rockland Community College vs SUNY at Fredonia: 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 Fredonia, NY
SUNY at Fredonia
- Net price / year
- $15,897
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,247
- Payback
- 10.8 yrs
SUNY at Fredonia has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,588 in 10.8 years versus 12 years at Rockland Community College, on median earnings of $54,247 vs $50,243 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rockland Community College | SUNY at Fredonia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,282 | $15,897 |
| Total net cost | $22,564 | $63,588 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,243 | $54,247 |
| Median debt | $8,497 | $24,250 |
| Payback | 12 yrs | 10.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $15,096 | $54,152 |
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 SUNY at Fredonia?
Rockland Community College, at $11,282 a year after aid versus $15,897 — a gap of $4,615 a year, or $41,024 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 SUNY at Fredonia graduates earn more?
SUNY at Fredonia graduates report a median $54,247 ten years after entry, $4,004 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 SUNY at Fredonia?
Rockland Community College: its completers carry a median $8,497 in federal loans versus $24,250 at SUNY at Fredonia, a difference of $15,753. 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?
50% of students finish at SUNY at Fredonia, 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.