Suffolk County Community College vs Hofstra University: which has better ROI?
Hofstra University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $136,704 in 6.6 years versus 6.8 years at Suffolk County Community College, on median earnings of $69,039 vs $49,907 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Suffolk County Community College | Hofstra University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,258 | $34,176 |
| Total net cost | $10,516 | $136,704 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,907 | $69,039 |
| Median debt | $8,250 | $23,621 |
| Payback | 6.8 yrs | 6.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $20,424 | $276,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Suffolk County Community College or Hofstra University?
Suffolk County Community College, at $5,258 a year after aid versus $34,176 — a gap of $28,918 a year, or $126,188 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Suffolk County Community College or Hofstra University graduates earn more?
Hofstra University graduates report a median $69,039 ten years after entry, $19,132 more than the $49,907 at Suffolk County Community 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, Suffolk County Community College or Hofstra University?
Suffolk County Community College: its completers carry a median $8,250 in federal loans versus $23,621 at Hofstra University, a difference of $15,371. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Hofstra University, against 29% at Suffolk County Community 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.