SUNY Oneonta vs Vassar College: which has better ROI?
SUNY Oneonta has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,632 in 6.4 years versus 6.8 years at Vassar College, on median earnings of $60,386 vs $71,366 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | SUNY Oneonta | Vassar College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,158 | $39,343 |
| Total net cost | $76,632 | $157,372 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,386 | $71,366 |
| Median debt | $19,812 | $18,625 |
| Payback | 6.4 yrs | 6.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $163,888 | $302,748 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, SUNY Oneonta or Vassar College?
SUNY Oneonta, at $19,158 a year after aid versus $39,343 — a gap of $20,185 a year, or $80,740 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 Oneonta or Vassar College graduates earn more?
Vassar College graduates report a median $71,366 ten years after entry, $10,980 more than the $60,386 at SUNY Oneonta. 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 Oneonta or Vassar College?
Vassar College: its completers carry a median $18,625 in federal loans versus $19,812 at SUNY Oneonta, a difference of $1,187. 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 Vassar College, against 69% at SUNY Oneonta. 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.