Head-to-head comparison
St Bonaventure University vs Roberts Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Bonaventure, NY
St Bonaventure University
- Net price / year
- $27,074
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,214
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
Option B Rochester, NY
Roberts Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $23,130
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,031
- Payback
- 13.9 yrs
St Bonaventure University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $108,296 in 12.2 years versus 13.9 years at Roberts Wesleyan University, on median earnings of $57,214 vs $55,031 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Bonaventure University | Roberts Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,074 | $23,130 |
| Total net cost | $108,296 | $92,520 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,214 | $55,031 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $23,750 |
| Payback | 12.2 yrs | 13.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $68,784 | $40,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, St Bonaventure University or Roberts Wesleyan University?
Roberts Wesleyan University, at $23,130 a year after aid versus $27,074 — a gap of $3,944 a year, or $15,776 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 St Bonaventure University or Roberts Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
St Bonaventure University graduates report a median $57,214 ten years after entry, $2,183 more than the $55,031 at Roberts Wesleyan University. 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, St Bonaventure University or Roberts Wesleyan University?
Roberts Wesleyan University: its completers carry a median $23,750 in federal loans versus $26,000 at St Bonaventure University, a difference of $2,250. 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?
67% of students finish at St Bonaventure University, against 67% at Roberts Wesleyan University. 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.