Head-to-head comparison
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred vs Roberts Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Alfred, NY
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
- Net price / year
- $15,016
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,445
- Payback
- 14.4 yrs
Option B Rochester, NY
Roberts Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $23,130
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,031
- Payback
- 13.9 yrs
Roberts Wesleyan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $92,520 in 13.9 years versus 14.4 years at SUNY College of Technology at Alfred, on median earnings of $55,031 vs $50,445 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | Roberts Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,016 | $23,130 |
| Total net cost | $30,032 | $92,520 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,445 | $55,031 |
| Median debt | $13,750 | $23,750 |
| Payback | 14.4 yrs | 13.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $11,668 | $40,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, SUNY College of Technology at Alfred or Roberts Wesleyan University?
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred, at $15,016 a year after aid versus $23,130 — a gap of $8,114 a year, or $62,488 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 Technology at Alfred or Roberts Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Roberts Wesleyan University graduates report a median $55,031 ten years after entry, $4,586 more than the $50,445 at SUNY College of Technology at Alfred. 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 Technology at Alfred or Roberts Wesleyan University?
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred: its completers carry a median $13,750 in federal loans versus $23,750 at Roberts Wesleyan University, a difference of $10,000. 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?
67% of students finish at Roberts Wesleyan University, against 55% at SUNY College of Technology at Alfred. 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.