Hobart William Smith Colleges vs Eastern Suffolk BOCES: which has better ROI?
Hobart William Smith Colleges has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $126,252 in 6.2 years versus 6.5 years at Eastern Suffolk BOCES, on median earnings of $68,831 vs $63,394 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hobart William Smith Colleges | Eastern Suffolk BOCES |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,563 | $24,557 |
| Total net cost | $126,252 | $98,228 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $68,831 | $63,394 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $283,168 | $202,452 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Hobart William Smith Colleges or Eastern Suffolk BOCES?
Eastern Suffolk BOCES, at $24,557 a year after aid versus $31,563 — a gap of $7,006 a year, or $28,024 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Hobart William Smith Colleges or Eastern Suffolk BOCES graduates earn more?
Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates report a median $68,831 ten years after entry, $5,437 more than the $63,394 at Eastern Suffolk BOCES. 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, Hobart William Smith Colleges or Eastern Suffolk BOCES?
Eastern Suffolk BOCES: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Hobart William Smith Colleges, a difference of $17,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Hobart William Smith Colleges, against 77% at Eastern Suffolk BOCES. 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.