Head-to-head comparison
University of Rochester vs Hamilton College: which has better ROI?
Option A Rochester, NY
University of Rochester
- Net price / year
- $29,278
- Earnings, 10 years
- $79,042
- Payback
- 3.8 yrs
Option B Clinton, NY
Hamilton College
- Net price / year
- $28,985
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,411
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
University of Rochester has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $117,112 in 3.8 years versus 3.9 years at Hamilton College, on median earnings of $79,042 vs $78,411 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Rochester | Hamilton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,278 | $28,985 |
| Total net cost | $117,112 | $115,940 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $79,042 | $78,411 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $17,000 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $496,528 | $485,080 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Rochester or Hamilton College?
Hamilton College, at $28,985 a year after aid versus $29,278 — a gap of $293 a year, or $1,172 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 of Rochester or Hamilton College graduates earn more?
University of Rochester graduates report a median $79,042 ten years after entry, $631 more than the $78,411 at Hamilton 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 of Rochester or Hamilton College?
Hamilton College: its completers carry a median $17,000 in federal loans versus $21,000 at University of Rochester, a difference of $4,000. 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?
91% of students finish at Hamilton College, against 85% at University of Rochester. 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.