Syracuse University vs Onondaga Community College: which has better ROI?
Syracuse University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $155,172 in 5 years versus not at all at Onondaga Community College, on median earnings of $79,164 vs $41,190 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Syracuse University | Onondaga Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,793 | $8,562 |
| Total net cost | $155,172 | $17,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $79,164 | $41,190 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $10,000 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $460,908 | -$160,524 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Syracuse University or Onondaga Community College?
Onondaga Community College, at $8,562 a year after aid versus $38,793 — a gap of $30,231 a year, or $138,048 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Syracuse University or Onondaga Community College graduates earn more?
Syracuse University graduates report a median $79,164 ten years after entry, $37,974 more than the $41,190 at Onondaga 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, Syracuse University or Onondaga Community College?
Onondaga Community College: its completers carry a median $10,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Syracuse University, a difference of $16,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Syracuse University, against 27% at Onondaga 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.