Head-to-head comparison
University at Buffalo vs Erie Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Buffalo, NY
University at Buffalo
- Net price / year
- $20,995
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,814
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Option B Buffalo, NY
Erie Community College
- Net price / year
- $7,765
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,228
- Payback
- No payback
University at Buffalo has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $83,980 in 3.7 years versus not at all at Erie Community College, on median earnings of $70,814 vs $41,228 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University at Buffalo | Erie Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,995 | $7,765 |
| Total net cost | $83,980 | $15,530 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,814 | $41,228 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $9,250 |
| Payback | 3.7 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $365,100 | -$158,170 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University at Buffalo or Erie Community College?
Erie Community College, at $7,765 a year after aid versus $20,995 — a gap of $13,230 a year, or $68,450 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 University at Buffalo or Erie Community College graduates earn more?
University at Buffalo graduates report a median $70,814 ten years after entry, $29,586 more than the $41,228 at Erie Community 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, University at Buffalo or Erie Community College?
Erie Community College: its completers carry a median $9,250 in federal loans versus $19,000 at University at Buffalo, a difference of $9,750. 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?
75% of students finish at University at Buffalo, against 28% at Erie Community 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.