Pratt Institute-Main vs Alfred University: which has better ROI?
Alfred University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $102,480 in 15.7 years versus 35.5 years at Pratt Institute-Main, on median earnings of $54,897 vs $54,295 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pratt Institute-Main | Alfred University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $52,659 | $25,620 |
| Total net cost | $210,636 | $102,480 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,295 | $54,897 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 35.5 yrs | 15.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$91,936 | $28,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pratt Institute-Main or Alfred University?
Alfred University, at $25,620 a year after aid versus $52,659 — a gap of $27,039 a year, or $108,156 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pratt Institute-Main or Alfred University graduates earn more?
Alfred University graduates report a median $54,897 ten years after entry, $602 more than the $54,295 at Pratt Institute-Main. 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, Pratt Institute-Main or Alfred University?
Completers at both borrow a median $26,000, 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?
74% of students finish at Pratt Institute-Main, against 57% at Alfred 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.