Head-to-head comparison
California College of the Arts vs Southern California Institute of Technology: 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 Anaheim, CA
Southern California Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $33,392
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,598
- Payback
- 25.5 yrs
Southern California Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $133,568 in 25.5 years versus 204.6 years at California College of the Arts, on median earnings of $53,598 vs $49,414 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California College of the Arts | Southern California Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $53,909 | $33,392 |
| Total net cost | $215,636 | $133,568 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,414 | $53,598 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $10,798 |
| Payback | 204.6 yrs | 25.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$194,556 | -$28,808 |
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 Southern California Institute of Technology?
Southern California Institute of Technology, at $33,392 a year after aid versus $53,909 — a gap of $20,517 a year, or $82,068 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 Southern California Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Southern California Institute of Technology graduates report a median $53,598 ten years after entry, $4,184 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 Southern California Institute of Technology?
Southern California Institute of Technology: its completers carry a median $10,798 in federal loans versus $27,000 at California College of the Arts, a difference of $16,202. 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?
74% of students finish at Southern California Institute of Technology, 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.