Head-to-head comparison
SUNY College at Geneseo vs Hamilton College: which has better ROI?
Option A Geneseo, NY
SUNY College at Geneseo
- Net price / year
- $18,211
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,316
- Payback
- 3.8 yrs
Option B Clinton, NY
Hamilton College
- Net price / year
- $28,985
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,411
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
SUNY College at Geneseo has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $72,844 in 3.8 years versus 3.9 years at Hamilton College, on median earnings of $67,316 vs $78,411 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SUNY College at Geneseo | Hamilton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,211 | $28,985 |
| Total net cost | $72,844 | $115,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,316 | $78,411 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $17,000 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $306,276 | $485,080 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, SUNY College at Geneseo or Hamilton College?
SUNY College at Geneseo, at $18,211 a year after aid versus $28,985 — a gap of $10,774 a year, or $43,096 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 College at Geneseo or Hamilton College graduates earn more?
Hamilton College graduates report a median $78,411 ten years after entry, $11,095 more than the $67,316 at SUNY College at Geneseo. 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 College at Geneseo or Hamilton College?
Hamilton College: its completers carry a median $17,000 in federal loans versus $19,500 at SUNY College at Geneseo, a difference of $2,500. 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?
91% of students finish at Hamilton College, against 71% at SUNY College at Geneseo. 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.