Degree Dividend
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SUNY at Purchase College vs Apex Technical School: which has better ROI?

Public, Purchase NY · vs · Private nonprofit, Long Island City NY

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but SUNY at Purchase College comes closer — median earnings $45,092 against a $75,652 total, vs $41,093 at Apex Technical School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureSUNY at Purchase CollegeApex Technical School
Net price / yr$18,913$14,826
Total net cost$75,652$59,304
Median earnings, 10 yrs$45,092$41,093
Median debt$21,067$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$141,012-$204,644

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, SUNY at Purchase College or Apex Technical School?

Apex Technical School, at $14,826 a year after aid versus $18,913 — a gap of $4,087 a year, or $16,348 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do SUNY at Purchase College or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?

SUNY at Purchase College graduates report a median $45,092 ten years after entry, $3,999 more than the $41,093 at Apex Technical School. 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, SUNY at Purchase College or Apex Technical School?

Apex Technical School: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $21,067 at SUNY at Purchase College, a difference of $11,567. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

78% of students finish at Apex Technical School, against 63% at SUNY at Purchase 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.

SUNY at Purchase College vs Apex Technical School: frequently asked questions

Is SUNY at Purchase College or Apex Technical School a better value?
SUNY at Purchase College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, SUNY at Purchase College or Apex Technical School?
Apex Technical School: $14,826/yr net price after aid versus $18,913/yr at SUNY at Purchase College — a difference of $4,087 a year, or about $16,348 over four years.
Do SUNY at Purchase College or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?
SUNY at Purchase College graduates earn a median $45,092 ten years after entry, versus $41,093 at Apex Technical School — a $3,999 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.