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Finger Lakes Community College vs Apex Technical School: which has better ROI?

Public, Canandaigua NY · vs · Private nonprofit, Long Island City NY

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Finger Lakes Community College comes closer — median earnings $40,054 against a $27,796 total, vs $41,093 at Apex Technical School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureFinger Lakes Community CollegeApex Technical School
Net price / yr$13,898$14,826
Total net cost$27,796$59,304
Median earnings, 10 yrs$40,054$41,093
Median debt$12,975$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$193,916-$204,644

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Finger Lakes Community College or Apex Technical School?

Finger Lakes Community College, at $13,898 a year after aid versus $14,826 — a gap of $928 a year, or $31,508 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Finger Lakes Community College or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?

Apex Technical School graduates report a median $41,093 ten years after entry, $1,039 more than the $40,054 at Finger Lakes 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, Finger Lakes Community College or Apex Technical School?

Apex Technical School: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $12,975 at Finger Lakes Community College, a difference of $3,475. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

78% of students finish at Apex Technical School, against 30% at Finger Lakes 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.

Finger Lakes Community College vs Apex Technical School: frequently asked questions

Is Finger Lakes Community College or Apex Technical School a better value?
Finger Lakes Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Finger Lakes Community College or Apex Technical School?
Finger Lakes Community College: $13,898/yr net price after aid versus $14,826/yr at Apex Technical School — a difference of $928 a year, or about $31,508 over four years.
Do Finger Lakes Community College or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?
Apex Technical School graduates earn a median $41,093 ten years after entry, versus $40,054 at Finger Lakes Community College — a $1,039 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.