Union College vs SUNY Polytechnic Institute: which has better ROI?
Union College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $138,244 in 3.4 years versus 3.5 years at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, on median earnings of $88,604 vs $64,355 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Union College | SUNY Polytechnic Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,561 | $14,164 |
| Total net cost | $138,244 | $56,656 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $88,604 | $64,355 |
| Median debt | $25,337 | $17,250 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 3.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $666,636 | $263,244 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Union College or SUNY Polytechnic Institute?
SUNY Polytechnic Institute, at $14,164 a year after aid versus $34,561 — a gap of $20,397 a year, or $81,588 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Union College or SUNY Polytechnic Institute graduates earn more?
Union College graduates report a median $88,604 ten years after entry, $24,249 more than the $64,355 at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. 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, Union College or SUNY Polytechnic Institute?
SUNY Polytechnic Institute: its completers carry a median $17,250 in federal loans versus $25,337 at Union College, a difference of $8,087. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Union College, against 55% at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. 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.