Head-to-head comparison
SUNY Buffalo State University vs Rockland Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Buffalo, NY
SUNY Buffalo State University
- Net price / year
- $11,346
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,334
- Payback
- 11.4 yrs
Option B Suffern, NY
Rockland Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,282
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,243
- Payback
- 12 yrs
SUNY Buffalo State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $45,384 in 11.4 years versus 12 years at Rockland Community College, on median earnings of $52,334 vs $50,243 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SUNY Buffalo State University | Rockland Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,346 | $11,282 |
| Total net cost | $45,384 | $22,564 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,334 | $50,243 |
| Median debt | $21,028 | $8,497 |
| Payback | 11.4 yrs | 12 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $34,096 | $15,096 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, SUNY Buffalo State University or Rockland Community College?
Rockland Community College, at $11,282 a year after aid versus $11,346 — a gap of $64 a year, or $22,820 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 SUNY Buffalo State University or Rockland Community College graduates earn more?
SUNY Buffalo State University graduates report a median $52,334 ten years after entry, $2,091 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, SUNY Buffalo State University or Rockland Community College?
Rockland Community College: its completers carry a median $8,497 in federal loans versus $21,028 at SUNY Buffalo State University, a difference of $12,531. 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?
33% of students finish at SUNY Buffalo State University, 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.