Head-to-head comparison
Sinclair Community College vs University of Dayton: which has better ROI?
Option A Dayton, OH
Sinclair Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,992
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,558
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Dayton, OH
University of Dayton
- Net price / year
- $29,533
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,537
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
University of Dayton has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,132 in 4.3 years versus not at all at Sinclair Community College, on median earnings of $75,537 vs $37,558 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Sinclair Community College | University of Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,992 | $29,533 |
| Total net cost | $23,968 | $118,132 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,558 | $75,537 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $23,250 |
| Payback | — | 4.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$240,008 | $425,408 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Sinclair Community College or University of Dayton?
Sinclair Community College, at $5,992 a year after aid versus $29,533 — a gap of $23,541 a year, or $94,164 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 Sinclair Community College or University of Dayton graduates earn more?
University of Dayton graduates report a median $75,537 ten years after entry, $37,979 more than the $37,558 at Sinclair 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, Sinclair Community College or University of Dayton?
Sinclair Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $23,250 at University of Dayton, a difference of $11,250. 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?
80% of students finish at University of Dayton, against 41% at Sinclair 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.