Head-to-head comparison
Evergreen Valley College vs San Jose City College: which has better ROI?
Option A San Jose, CA
Evergreen Valley College
- Net price / year
- $12,414
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,077
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
Option B San Jose, CA
San Jose City College
- Net price / year
- $16,959
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,215
- Payback
- No payback
Evergreen Valley College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $24,828 in 5.3 years versus not at all at San Jose City College, on median earnings of $53,077 vs $46,215 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Evergreen Valley College | San Jose City College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,414 | $16,959 |
| Total net cost | $24,828 | $33,918 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,077 | $46,215 |
| Median debt | $13,219 | — |
| Payback | 5.3 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $69,512 | -$76,818 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Evergreen Valley College or San Jose City College?
Evergreen Valley College, at $12,414 a year after aid versus $16,959 — a gap of $4,545 a year, or $9,090 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 Evergreen Valley College or San Jose City College graduates earn more?
Evergreen Valley College graduates report a median $53,077 ten years after entry, $6,862 more than the $46,215 at San Jose City 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 graduates more of its students?
41% of students finish at Evergreen Valley College, against 34% at San Jose City 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.