Head-to-head comparison
De Anza College vs Harvey Mudd College: which has better ROI?
Option A Cupertino, CA
De Anza College
- Net price / year
- $6,642
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,596
- Payback
- 1.6 yrs
Option B Claremont, CA
Harvey Mudd College
- Net price / year
- $35,924
- Earnings, 10 years
- $138,687
- Payback
- 1.6 yrs
Harvey Mudd College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $143,696 in 1.6 years versus 1.6 years at De Anza College, on median earnings of $138,687 vs $56,596 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | De Anza College | Harvey Mudd College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,642 | $35,924 |
| Total net cost | $13,284 | $143,696 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,596 | $138,687 |
| Median debt | $5,625 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 1.6 yrs | 1.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $151,436 | $1,662,844 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, De Anza College or Harvey Mudd College?
De Anza College, at $6,642 a year after aid versus $35,924 — a gap of $29,282 a year, or $130,412 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 De Anza College or Harvey Mudd College graduates earn more?
Harvey Mudd College graduates report a median $138,687 ten years after entry, $82,091 more than the $56,596 at De Anza College. 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, De Anza College or Harvey Mudd College?
De Anza College: its completers carry a median $5,625 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Harvey Mudd College, a difference of $19,375. 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?
92% of students finish at Harvey Mudd College, against 68% at De Anza College. 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.