Alfred University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Alfred University charges a net price of $25,620/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $102,480. Graduates earn a median $54,897 ten years after entry, $6,537/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 15.7 years — a 20-year net return of $28,260, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Alfred University's 15.7-year payback ranks #981 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 23% of them, and #100 of 203 in New York.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $25,620/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $102,480 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,897 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $6,537/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 15.7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $28,260 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Alfred University's own numbers. Net price $25,620 × 4 years = $102,480 total. Median earnings $54,897 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $6,537 a year of premium. $102,480 ÷ $6,537 = 15.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $28,260. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Alfred University students graduate with?
A median $26,000 in federal loans among completers, or 47% of the $54,897 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Alfred University students graduate?
57% finish their degree — 43% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $102,480 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $179,789 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Alfred University expensive compared with other New York colleges?
Its $25,620 net price runs $6,707 above the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, or $26,828 more across the full degree.