Hartwick College vs Elmira College: which has better ROI?
Elmira College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,544 in 9.7 years versus 9.8 years at Hartwick College, on median earnings of $57,550 vs $61,107 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hartwick College | Elmira College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,320 | $22,386 |
| Total net cost | $125,280 | $89,544 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,107 | $57,550 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 9.8 yrs | 9.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $129,660 | $94,256 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Hartwick College or Elmira College?
Elmira College, at $22,386 a year after aid versus $31,320 — a gap of $8,934 a year, or $35,736 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Hartwick College or Elmira College graduates earn more?
Hartwick College graduates report a median $61,107 ten years after entry, $3,557 more than the $57,550 at Elmira 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, Hartwick College or Elmira College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Elmira College, against 53% at Hartwick 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.