Head-to-head comparison
Syracuse University vs Utica University: 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 Utica, NY
Utica University
- Net price / year
- $19,108
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,277
- Payback
- 5.1 yrs
Syracuse University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $155,172 in 5 years versus 5.1 years at Utica University, on median earnings of $79,164 vs $63,277 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Syracuse University | Utica University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,793 | $19,108 |
| Total net cost | $155,172 | $76,432 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $79,164 | $63,277 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $22,500 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 5.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $460,908 | $221,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Syracuse University or Utica University?
Utica University, at $19,108 a year after aid versus $38,793 — a gap of $19,685 a year, or $78,740 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 Utica University graduates earn more?
Syracuse University graduates report a median $79,164 ten years after entry, $15,887 more than the $63,277 at Utica 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, Syracuse University or Utica University?
Utica University: its completers carry a median $22,500 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Syracuse University, a difference of $3,500. 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?
84% of students finish at Syracuse University, against 56% at Utica 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.