Farmingdale State College vs St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island: which has better ROI?
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $71,332 in 1.9 years versus 2 years at Farmingdale State College, on median earnings of $86,693 vs $69,781 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Farmingdale State College | St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,867 | $35,666 |
| Total net cost | $43,468 | $71,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,781 | $86,693 |
| Median debt | $14,718 | $25,729 |
| Payback | 2 yrs | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $384,952 | $695,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Farmingdale State College or St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island?
Farmingdale State College, at $10,867 a year after aid versus $35,666 — a gap of $24,799 a year, or $27,864 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Farmingdale State College or St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island graduates earn more?
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island graduates report a median $86,693 ten years after entry, $16,912 more than the $69,781 at Farmingdale State 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, Farmingdale State College or St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island?
Farmingdale State College: its completers carry a median $14,718 in federal loans versus $25,729 at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island, a difference of $11,011. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at Farmingdale State College, against 46% at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island. 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.