Head-to-head comparison
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry vs Hartwick College: which has better ROI?
Option A Syracuse, NY
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- Net price / year
- $18,952
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,763
- Payback
- 10.2 yrs
Option B Oneonta, NY
Hartwick College
- Net price / year
- $31,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,107
- Payback
- 9.8 yrs
Hartwick College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,280 in 9.8 years versus 10.2 years at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, on median earnings of $61,107 vs $55,763 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Hartwick College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,952 | $31,320 |
| Total net cost | $75,808 | $125,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,763 | $61,107 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 10.2 yrs | 9.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $72,252 | $129,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry or Hartwick College?
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, at $18,952 a year after aid versus $31,320 — a gap of $12,368 a year, or $49,472 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 of Environmental Science and Forestry or Hartwick College graduates earn more?
Hartwick College graduates report a median $61,107 ten years after entry, $5,344 more than the $55,763 at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. 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 of Environmental Science and Forestry or Hartwick College?
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Hartwick College, a difference of $16,000. 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?
66% of students finish at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, against 53% at Hartwick 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.