Syracuse University vs Rochester Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?
Rochester Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $139,624 in 4.9 years versus 5 years at Syracuse University, on median earnings of $76,571 vs $79,164 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Syracuse University | Rochester Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,793 | $34,906 |
| Total net cost | $155,172 | $139,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $79,164 | $76,571 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $26,778 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 4.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $460,908 | $424,596 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Syracuse University or Rochester Institute of Technology?
Rochester Institute of Technology, at $34,906 a year after aid versus $38,793 — a gap of $3,887 a year, or $15,548 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 Rochester Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Syracuse University graduates report a median $79,164 ten years after entry, $2,593 more than the $76,571 at Rochester Institute of Technology. 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 Rochester Institute of Technology?
Syracuse University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $26,778 at Rochester Institute of Technology, a difference of $778. 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 70% at Rochester Institute of Technology. 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.