Head-to-head comparison
Suffolk University vs Emmanuel College: which has better ROI?
Option A Boston, MA
Suffolk University
- Net price / year
- $29,618
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,506
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
Option B Boston, MA
Emmanuel College
- Net price / year
- $26,706
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,245
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Emmanuel College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $106,824 in 5.4 years versus 6.2 years at Suffolk University, on median earnings of $68,245 vs $67,506 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Suffolk University | Emmanuel College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,618 | $26,706 |
| Total net cost | $118,472 | $106,824 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,506 | $68,245 |
| Median debt | $26,889 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | 5.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $264,448 | $290,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Suffolk University or Emmanuel College?
Emmanuel College, at $26,706 a year after aid versus $29,618 — a gap of $2,912 a year, or $11,648 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 Suffolk University or Emmanuel College graduates earn more?
Emmanuel College graduates report a median $68,245 ten years after entry, $739 more than the $67,506 at Suffolk 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, Suffolk University or Emmanuel College?
Suffolk University: its completers carry a median $26,889 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Emmanuel College, a difference of $111. 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?
68% of students finish at Emmanuel College, against 61% at Suffolk 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.