Head-to-head comparison
University of Rochester vs SUNY College at Geneseo: 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 Geneseo, NY
SUNY College at Geneseo
- Net price / year
- $18,211
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,316
- Payback
- 3.8 yrs
University of Rochester has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $117,112 in 3.8 years versus 3.8 years at SUNY College at Geneseo, on median earnings of $79,042 vs $67,316 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Rochester | SUNY College at Geneseo |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,278 | $18,211 |
| Total net cost | $117,112 | $72,844 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $79,042 | $67,316 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | 3.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $496,528 | $306,276 |
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 SUNY College at Geneseo?
SUNY College at Geneseo, at $18,211 a year after aid versus $29,278 — a gap of $11,067 a year, or $44,268 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 SUNY College at Geneseo graduates earn more?
University of Rochester graduates report a median $79,042 ten years after entry, $11,726 more than the $67,316 at SUNY College at Geneseo. 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 SUNY College at Geneseo?
SUNY College at Geneseo: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,000 at University of Rochester, a difference of $1,500. 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?
85% of students finish at University of Rochester, against 71% at SUNY College at Geneseo. 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.