Head-to-head comparison
Biola University vs Simpson University: 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 Redding, CA
Simpson University
- Net price / year
- $27,817
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,340
- Payback
- 18.6 yrs
Biola University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,980 in 15 years versus 18.6 years at Simpson University, on median earnings of $56,778 vs $54,340 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Biola University | Simpson University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,495 | $27,817 |
| Total net cost | $125,980 | $111,268 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,778 | $54,340 |
| Median debt | $23,875 | $18,750 |
| Payback | 15 yrs | 18.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $42,380 | $8,332 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Biola University or Simpson University?
Simpson University, at $27,817 a year after aid versus $31,495 — a gap of $3,678 a year, or $14,712 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 Simpson University graduates earn more?
Biola University graduates report a median $56,778 ten years after entry, $2,438 more than the $54,340 at Simpson 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 Simpson University?
Simpson University: its completers carry a median $18,750 in federal loans versus $23,875 at Biola University, a difference of $5,125. 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 49% at Simpson University. 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.