Head-to-head comparison
Diablo Valley College vs Brownson Technical School: which has better ROI?
Option A Pleasant Hill, CA
Diablo Valley College
- Net price / year
- $8,312
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,378
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Option B Anaheim, CA
Brownson Technical School
- Net price / year
- $30,513
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,767
- Payback
- 6 yrs
Diablo Valley College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $16,624 in 5.5 years versus 6 years at Brownson Technical School, on median earnings of $51,378 vs $68,767 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Diablo Valley College | Brownson Technical School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,312 | $30,513 |
| Total net cost | $16,624 | $122,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,378 | $68,767 |
| Median debt | $10,021 | $9,500 |
| Payback | 5.5 yrs | 6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $43,736 | $286,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Diablo Valley College or Brownson Technical School?
Diablo Valley College, at $8,312 a year after aid versus $30,513 — a gap of $22,201 a year, or $105,428 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 Diablo Valley College or Brownson Technical School graduates earn more?
Brownson Technical School graduates report a median $68,767 ten years after entry, $17,389 more than the $51,378 at Diablo Valley 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, Diablo Valley College or Brownson Technical School?
Brownson Technical School: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,021 at Diablo Valley College, a difference of $521. 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?
89% of students finish at Brownson Technical School, against 49% at Diablo Valley 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.