Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs Colgate University: which has better ROI?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,912 in 2.7 years versus 3.1 years at Colgate University, on median earnings of $102,051 vs $85,139 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Colgate University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,228 | $28,786 |
| Total net cost | $144,912 | $115,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $102,051 | $85,139 |
| Median debt | $23,750 | $15,000 |
| Payback | 2.7 yrs | 3.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $928,908 | $620,436 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Colgate University?
Colgate University, at $28,786 a year after aid versus $36,228 — a gap of $7,442 a year, or $29,768 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Colgate University graduates earn more?
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates report a median $102,051 ten years after entry, $16,912 more than the $85,139 at Colgate 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, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Colgate University?
Colgate University: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $23,750 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a difference of $8,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
91% of students finish at Colgate University, against 84% at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 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.