Head-to-head comparison
Claremont McKenna College vs Cal Poly Maritime Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A Claremont, CA
Claremont McKenna College
- Net price / year
- $28,849
- Earnings, 10 years
- $104,736
- Payback
- 2 yrs
Option B Vallejo, CA
Cal Poly Maritime Academy
- Net price / year
- $20,555
- Earnings, 10 years
- $94,784
- Payback
- 1.8 yrs
Cal Poly Maritime Academy has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,220 in 1.8 years versus 2 years at Claremont McKenna College, on median earnings of $94,784 vs $104,736 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Claremont McKenna College | Cal Poly Maritime Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,849 | $20,555 |
| Total net cost | $115,396 | $82,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $104,736 | $94,784 |
| Median debt | $13,500 | $24,965 |
| Payback | 2 yrs | 1.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $1,012,124 | $846,260 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Claremont McKenna College or Cal Poly Maritime Academy?
Cal Poly Maritime Academy, at $20,555 a year after aid versus $28,849 — a gap of $8,294 a year, or $33,176 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 Claremont McKenna College or Cal Poly Maritime Academy graduates earn more?
Claremont McKenna College graduates report a median $104,736 ten years after entry, $9,952 more than the $94,784 at Cal Poly Maritime Academy. 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, Claremont McKenna College or Cal Poly Maritime Academy?
Claremont McKenna College: its completers carry a median $13,500 in federal loans versus $24,965 at Cal Poly Maritime Academy, a difference of $11,465. 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?
91% of students finish at Claremont McKenna College, against 60% at Cal Poly Maritime Academy. 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.