Head-to-head comparison
Diablo Valley College vs Evergreen Valley College: 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 San Jose, CA
Evergreen Valley College
- Net price / year
- $12,414
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,077
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
Evergreen Valley College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $24,828 in 5.3 years versus 5.5 years at Diablo Valley College, on median earnings of $53,077 vs $51,378 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Diablo Valley College | Evergreen Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,312 | $12,414 |
| Total net cost | $16,624 | $24,828 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,378 | $53,077 |
| Median debt | $10,021 | $13,219 |
| Payback | 5.5 yrs | 5.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $43,736 | $69,512 |
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 Evergreen Valley College?
Diablo Valley College, at $8,312 a year after aid versus $12,414 — a gap of $4,102 a year, or $8,204 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 Evergreen Valley College graduates earn more?
Evergreen Valley College graduates report a median $53,077 ten years after entry, $1,699 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 Evergreen Valley College?
Diablo Valley College: its completers carry a median $10,021 in federal loans versus $13,219 at Evergreen Valley College, a difference of $3,198. 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?
49% of students finish at Diablo Valley College, against 41% at Evergreen 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.