Head-to-head comparison
California College of the Arts vs Hope International University: 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 Fullerton, CA
Hope International University
- Net price / year
- $29,310
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,697
- Payback
- 87.7 yrs
Hope International University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $117,240 in 87.7 years versus 204.6 years at California College of the Arts, on median earnings of $49,697 vs $49,414 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California College of the Arts | Hope International University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $53,909 | $29,310 |
| Total net cost | $215,636 | $117,240 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,414 | $49,697 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 204.6 yrs | 87.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$194,556 | -$90,500 |
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 Hope International University?
Hope International University, at $29,310 a year after aid versus $53,909 — a gap of $24,599 a year, or $98,396 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 Hope International University graduates earn more?
Hope International University graduates report a median $49,697 ten years after entry, $283 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 Hope International University?
Hope International University: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at California College of the Arts, a difference of $4,000. 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?
61% of students finish at California College of the Arts, against 49% at Hope International 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.