Head-to-head comparison
Diablo Valley College vs Occidental 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 Los Angeles, CA
Occidental College
- Net price / year
- $38,263
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,951
- Payback
- 5.5 yrs
Occidental College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $153,052 in 5.5 years versus 5.5 years at Diablo Valley College, on median earnings of $75,951 vs $51,378 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Diablo Valley College | Occidental College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,312 | $38,263 |
| Total net cost | $16,624 | $153,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,378 | $75,951 |
| Median debt | $10,021 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 5.5 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $43,736 | $398,768 |
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 Occidental College?
Diablo Valley College, at $8,312 a year after aid versus $38,263 — a gap of $29,951 a year, or $136,428 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 Occidental College graduates earn more?
Occidental College graduates report a median $75,951 ten years after entry, $24,573 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 Occidental College?
Diablo Valley College: its completers carry a median $10,021 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Occidental College, a difference of $12,979. 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?
81% of students finish at Occidental College, 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.