Colgate University vs Union College: which has better ROI?
Colgate University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $115,144 in 3.1 years versus 3.4 years at Union College, on median earnings of $85,139 vs $88,604 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Colgate University | Union College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,786 | $34,561 |
| Total net cost | $115,144 | $138,244 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $85,139 | $88,604 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $25,337 |
| Payback | 3.1 yrs | 3.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $620,436 | $666,636 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Colgate University or Union College?
Colgate University, at $28,786 a year after aid versus $34,561 — a gap of $5,775 a year, or $23,100 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Colgate University or Union College graduates earn more?
Union College graduates report a median $88,604 ten years after entry, $3,465 more than the $85,139 at Colgate University. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Colgate University or Union College?
Colgate University: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $25,337 at Union College, a difference of $10,337. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
91% of students finish at Colgate University, against 80% at Union 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.