Head-to-head comparison
The New School vs Alfred University: which has better ROI?
Option A New York, NY
The New School
- Net price / year
- $58,741
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,901
- Payback
- 51.7 yrs
Option B Alfred, NY
Alfred University
- Net price / year
- $25,620
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,897
- Payback
- 15.7 yrs
Alfred University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $102,480 in 15.7 years versus 51.7 years at The New School, on median earnings of $54,897 vs $52,901 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The New School | Alfred University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $58,741 | $25,620 |
| Total net cost | $234,964 | $102,480 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,901 | $54,897 |
| Median debt | $22,266 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 51.7 yrs | 15.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$144,144 | $28,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, The New School or Alfred University?
Alfred University, at $25,620 a year after aid versus $58,741 — a gap of $33,121 a year, or $132,484 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 The New School or Alfred University graduates earn more?
Alfred University graduates report a median $54,897 ten years after entry, $1,996 more than the $52,901 at The New School. 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, The New School or Alfred University?
The New School: its completers carry a median $22,266 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Alfred University, a difference of $3,734. 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?
69% of students finish at The New School, against 57% at Alfred 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.