Head-to-head comparison
Biola University vs Stanbridge 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 Irvine, CA
Stanbridge University
- Net price / year
- $45,372
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,144
- Payback
- 13.2 yrs
Stanbridge University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $181,488 in 13.2 years versus 15 years at Biola University, on median earnings of $62,144 vs $56,778 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Biola University | Stanbridge University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,495 | $45,372 |
| Total net cost | $125,980 | $181,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,778 | $62,144 |
| Median debt | $23,875 | $20,000 |
| Payback | 15 yrs | 13.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $42,380 | $94,192 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Biola University or Stanbridge University?
Biola University, at $31,495 a year after aid versus $45,372 — a gap of $13,877 a year, or $55,508 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 Stanbridge University graduates earn more?
Stanbridge University graduates report a median $62,144 ten years after entry, $5,366 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 Stanbridge University?
Stanbridge University: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $23,875 at Biola University, a difference of $3,875. 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 62% at Stanbridge 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.