Head-to-head comparison
SUNY Buffalo State University vs SUNY at Fredonia: 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 Fredonia, NY
SUNY at Fredonia
- Net price / year
- $15,897
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,247
- Payback
- 10.8 yrs
SUNY at Fredonia has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,588 in 10.8 years versus 11.4 years at SUNY Buffalo State University, on median earnings of $54,247 vs $52,334 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SUNY Buffalo State University | SUNY at Fredonia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,346 | $15,897 |
| Total net cost | $45,384 | $63,588 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,334 | $54,247 |
| Median debt | $21,028 | $24,250 |
| Payback | 11.4 yrs | 10.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $34,096 | $54,152 |
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 SUNY at Fredonia?
SUNY Buffalo State University, at $11,346 a year after aid versus $15,897 — a gap of $4,551 a year, or $18,204 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 SUNY at Fredonia graduates earn more?
SUNY at Fredonia graduates report a median $54,247 ten years after entry, $1,913 more than the $52,334 at SUNY Buffalo State 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, SUNY Buffalo State University or SUNY at Fredonia?
SUNY Buffalo State University: its completers carry a median $21,028 in federal loans versus $24,250 at SUNY at Fredonia, a difference of $3,222. 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?
50% of students finish at SUNY at Fredonia, against 33% at SUNY Buffalo State 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.