Erie Community College vs SUNY Buffalo State University: which has better ROI?
SUNY Buffalo State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $45,384 in 11.4 years versus not at all at Erie Community College, on median earnings of $52,334 vs $41,228 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Erie Community College | SUNY Buffalo State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,765 | $11,346 |
| Total net cost | $15,530 | $45,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,228 | $52,334 |
| Median debt | $9,250 | $21,028 |
| Payback | — | 11.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$158,170 | $34,096 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Erie Community College or SUNY Buffalo State University?
Erie Community College, at $7,765 a year after aid versus $11,346 — a gap of $3,581 a year, or $29,854 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Erie Community College or SUNY Buffalo State University graduates earn more?
SUNY Buffalo State University graduates report a median $52,334 ten years after entry, $11,106 more than the $41,228 at Erie Community 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Erie Community College or SUNY Buffalo State University?
Erie Community College: its completers carry a median $9,250 in federal loans versus $21,028 at SUNY Buffalo State University, a difference of $11,778. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at SUNY Buffalo State University, against 28% at Erie Community 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.