SUNY College at Potsdam vs Apex Technical School: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but SUNY College at Potsdam comes closer — median earnings $47,866 against a $54,496 total, vs $41,093 at Apex Technical School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SUNY College at Potsdam | Apex Technical School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,624 | $14,826 |
| Total net cost | $54,496 | $59,304 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,866 | $41,093 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$64,376 | -$204,644 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, SUNY College at Potsdam or Apex Technical School?
SUNY College at Potsdam, at $13,624 a year after aid versus $14,826 — a gap of $1,202 a year, or $4,808 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 College at Potsdam or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?
SUNY College at Potsdam graduates report a median $47,866 ten years after entry, $6,773 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 College at Potsdam or Apex Technical School?
Apex Technical School: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $24,250 at SUNY College at Potsdam, a difference of $14,750. 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 45% at SUNY College at Potsdam. 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.