Head-to-head comparison
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology vs Trocaire College: which has better ROI?
Option A Flushing, NY
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
- Net price / year
- $39,986
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,973
- Payback
- 4.8 yrs
Option B Buffalo, NY
Trocaire College
- Net price / year
- $16,636
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,318
- Payback
- 4.8 yrs
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $79,972 in 4.8 years versus 4.8 years at Trocaire College, on median earnings of $64,973 vs $55,318 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology | Trocaire College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $39,986 | $16,636 |
| Total net cost | $79,972 | $33,272 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,973 | $55,318 |
| Median debt | $21,125 | $20,000 |
| Payback | 4.8 yrs | 4.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $252,288 | $105,888 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology or Trocaire College?
Trocaire College, at $16,636 a year after aid versus $39,986 — a gap of $23,350 a year, or $46,700 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 Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology or Trocaire College graduates earn more?
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology graduates report a median $64,973 ten years after entry, $9,655 more than the $55,318 at Trocaire 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, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology or Trocaire College?
Trocaire College: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $21,125 at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, a difference of $1,125. 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?
39% of students finish at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, against 31% at Trocaire 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.