Ithaca College vs Russell Sage 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 9.2 years at Russell Sage College, on median earnings of $63,548 vs $58,316 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ithaca College | Russell Sage College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,926 | $22,917 |
| Total net cost | $135,704 | $91,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,548 | $58,316 |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $22,000 |
| Payback | 8.9 yrs | 9.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $168,056 | $107,452 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ithaca College or Russell Sage College?
Russell Sage College, at $22,917 a year after aid versus $33,926 — a gap of $11,009 a year, or $44,036 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 Russell Sage College graduates earn more?
Ithaca College graduates report a median $63,548 ten years after entry, $5,232 more than the $58,316 at Russell Sage 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 Russell Sage College?
Russell Sage College: its completers carry a median $22,000 in federal loans versus $24,000 at Ithaca College, a difference of $2,000. 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 56% at Russell Sage 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.