Ithaca College vs Elmira College: which has better ROI?
Ithaca College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $135,704 in 8.9 years versus 9.7 years at Elmira College, on median earnings of $63,548 vs $57,550 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ithaca College | Elmira College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,926 | $22,386 |
| Total net cost | $135,704 | $89,544 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,548 | $57,550 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 9.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,056 | $94,256 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ithaca College or Elmira College?
Elmira College, at $22,386 a year after aid versus $33,926 — a gap of $11,540 a year, or $46,160 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ithaca College or Elmira College graduates earn more?
Ithaca College graduates report a median $63,548 ten years after entry, $5,998 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, Ithaca College or Elmira College?
Ithaca College: its completers carry a median $24,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Elmira College, a difference of $3,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Ithaca College, against 65% at Elmira 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.