Ithaca College vs Niagara University: which has better ROI?
Niagara University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $68,992 in 8.8 years versus 8.9 years at Ithaca College, on median earnings of $56,196 vs $63,548 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ithaca College | Niagara University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,926 | $17,248 |
| Total net cost | $135,704 | $68,992 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,548 | $56,196 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $25,475 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 8.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,056 | $87,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ithaca College or Niagara University?
Niagara University, at $17,248 a year after aid versus $33,926 — a gap of $16,678 a year, or $66,712 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 Niagara University graduates earn more?
Ithaca College graduates report a median $63,548 ten years after entry, $7,352 more than the $56,196 at Niagara University. 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 Niagara University?
Ithaca College: its completers carry a median $24,000 in federal loans versus $25,475 at Niagara University, a difference of $1,475. 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 75% at Niagara University. 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.