Head-to-head comparison
College of the Canyons vs Universal Technical Institute of California Inc: which has better ROI?
Option A Santa Clarita, CA
College of the Canyons
- Net price / year
- $3,702
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,022
- Payback
- 11.2 yrs
Option B Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Universal Technical Institute of California Inc
- Net price / year
- $26,360
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,873
- Payback
- 11.7 yrs
College of the Canyons has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $7,404 in 11.2 years versus 11.7 years at Universal Technical Institute of California Inc, on median earnings of $49,022 vs $52,873 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Canyons | Universal Technical Institute of California Inc |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,702 | $26,360 |
| Total net cost | $7,404 | $52,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,022 | $52,873 |
| Median debt | $9,612 | $13,124 |
| Payback | 11.2 yrs | 11.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $5,836 | $37,540 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, College of the Canyons or Universal Technical Institute of California Inc?
College of the Canyons, at $3,702 a year after aid versus $26,360 — a gap of $22,658 a year, or $45,316 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 College of the Canyons or Universal Technical Institute of California Inc graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute of California Inc graduates report a median $52,873 ten years after entry, $3,851 more than the $49,022 at College of the Canyons. 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, College of the Canyons or Universal Technical Institute of California Inc?
College of the Canyons: its completers carry a median $9,612 in federal loans versus $13,124 at Universal Technical Institute of California Inc, a difference of $3,512. 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?
72% of students finish at Universal Technical Institute of California Inc, against 45% at College of the Canyons. 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.