Head-to-head comparison
California College of the Arts vs Casa Loma College-Los Angeles: which has better ROI?
Option A San Francisco, CA
California College of the Arts
- Net price / year
- $53,909
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,414
- Payback
- 204.6 yrs
Option B Sherman Oaks, CA
Casa Loma College-Los Angeles
- Net price / year
- $27,596
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,854
- Payback
- 36.9 yrs
Casa Loma College-Los Angeles has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $55,192 in 36.9 years versus 204.6 years at California College of the Arts, on median earnings of $49,854 vs $49,414 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California College of the Arts | Casa Loma College-Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $53,909 | $27,596 |
| Total net cost | $215,636 | $55,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,414 | $49,854 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,791 |
| Payback | 204.6 yrs | 36.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$194,556 | -$25,312 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, California College of the Arts or Casa Loma College-Los Angeles?
Casa Loma College-Los Angeles, at $27,596 a year after aid versus $53,909 — a gap of $26,313 a year, or $160,444 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 California College of the Arts or Casa Loma College-Los Angeles graduates earn more?
Casa Loma College-Los Angeles graduates report a median $49,854 ten years after entry, $440 more than the $49,414 at California College of the Arts. 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, California College of the Arts or Casa Loma College-Los Angeles?
Casa Loma College-Los Angeles: its completers carry a median $26,791 in federal loans versus $27,000 at California College of the Arts, a difference of $209. 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?
73% of students finish at Casa Loma College-Los Angeles, against 61% at California College of the Arts. 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.