Head-to-head comparison
Russell Sage College vs Hartwick College: which has better ROI?
Option A Troy, NY
Russell Sage College
- Net price / year
- $22,917
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,316
- Payback
- 9.2 yrs
Option B Oneonta, NY
Hartwick College
- Net price / year
- $31,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,107
- Payback
- 9.8 yrs
Russell Sage College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $91,668 in 9.2 years versus 9.8 years at Hartwick College, on median earnings of $58,316 vs $61,107 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Russell Sage College | Hartwick College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,917 | $31,320 |
| Total net cost | $91,668 | $125,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,316 | $61,107 |
| Median debt | $22,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 9.2 yrs | 9.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $107,452 | $129,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Russell Sage College or Hartwick College?
Russell Sage College, at $22,917 a year after aid versus $31,320 — a gap of $8,403 a year, or $33,612 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 Russell Sage College or Hartwick College graduates earn more?
Hartwick College graduates report a median $61,107 ten years after entry, $2,791 more than the $58,316 at Russell Sage 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, Russell Sage College or Hartwick College?
Russell Sage College: its completers carry a median $22,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Hartwick College, a difference of $5,000. 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?
56% of students finish at Russell Sage College, against 53% at Hartwick 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.