Head-to-head comparison
Syracuse University vs Mount Saint Mary College: which has better ROI?
Option A Syracuse, NY
Syracuse University
- Net price / year
- $38,793
- Earnings, 10 years
- $79,164
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Option B Newburgh, NY
Mount Saint Mary College
- Net price / year
- $25,522
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,705
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
Syracuse University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $155,172 in 5 years versus 5.3 years at Mount Saint Mary College, on median earnings of $79,164 vs $67,705 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Syracuse University | Mount Saint Mary College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,793 | $25,522 |
| Total net cost | $155,172 | $102,088 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $79,164 | $67,705 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,007 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 5.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $460,908 | $284,812 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Syracuse University or Mount Saint Mary College?
Mount Saint Mary College, at $25,522 a year after aid versus $38,793 — a gap of $13,271 a year, or $53,084 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 Syracuse University or Mount Saint Mary College graduates earn more?
Syracuse University graduates report a median $79,164 ten years after entry, $11,459 more than the $67,705 at Mount Saint Mary 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, Syracuse University or Mount Saint Mary College?
Syracuse University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,007 at Mount Saint Mary College, a difference of $7. 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?
84% of students finish at Syracuse University, against 65% at Mount Saint Mary 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.