Stony Brook University vs Colgate University: which has better ROI?
Stony Brook University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,136 in 2.9 years versus 3.1 years at Colgate University, on median earnings of $74,502 vs $85,139 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stony Brook University | Colgate University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,784 | $28,786 |
| Total net cost | $75,136 | $115,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $74,502 | $85,139 |
| Median debt | $18,228 | $15,000 |
| Payback | 2.9 yrs | 3.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $447,704 | $620,436 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Stony Brook University or Colgate University?
Stony Brook University, at $18,784 a year after aid versus $28,786 — a gap of $10,002 a year, or $40,008 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Stony Brook University or Colgate University graduates earn more?
Colgate University graduates report a median $85,139 ten years after entry, $10,637 more than the $74,502 at Stony Brook 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, Stony Brook University or Colgate University?
Colgate University: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $18,228 at Stony Brook University, a difference of $3,228. 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 76% at Stony Brook 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.