Head-to-head comparison
Biola University vs Otis College of Art and Design: which has better ROI?
Option A La Mirada, CA
Biola University
- Net price / year
- $31,495
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,778
- Payback
- 15 yrs
Option B Los Angeles, CA
Otis College of Art and Design
- Net price / year
- $51,248
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,152
- Payback
- 20.9 yrs
Biola University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,980 in 15 years versus 20.9 years at Otis College of Art and Design, on median earnings of $56,778 vs $58,152 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Biola University | Otis College of Art and Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,495 | $51,248 |
| Total net cost | $125,980 | $204,992 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,778 | $58,152 |
| Median debt | $23,875 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 15 yrs | 20.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $42,380 | -$9,152 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Biola University or Otis College of Art and Design?
Biola University, at $31,495 a year after aid versus $51,248 — a gap of $19,753 a year, or $79,012 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Biola University or Otis College of Art and Design graduates earn more?
Otis College of Art and Design graduates report a median $58,152 ten years after entry, $1,374 more than the $56,778 at Biola University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Biola University or Otis College of Art and Design?
Biola University: its completers carry a median $23,875 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Otis College of Art and Design, a difference of $3,125. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Biola University, against 66% at Otis College of Art and Design. 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.