Head-to-head comparison
Gonzaga University vs Cascadia College: which has better ROI?
Option A Spokane, WA
Gonzaga University
- Net price / year
- $35,119
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,892
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
Option B Bothell, WA
Cascadia College
- Net price / year
- $12,281
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,133
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
Cascadia College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $24,562 in 4.3 years versus 4.6 years at Gonzaga University, on median earnings of $54,133 vs $78,892 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gonzaga University | Cascadia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $35,119 | $12,281 |
| Total net cost | $140,476 | $24,562 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,892 | $54,133 |
| Median debt | $24,454 | $6,368 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | 4.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $470,164 | $90,898 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Gonzaga University or Cascadia College?
Cascadia College, at $12,281 a year after aid versus $35,119 — a gap of $22,838 a year, or $115,914 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 Gonzaga University or Cascadia College graduates earn more?
Gonzaga University graduates report a median $78,892 ten years after entry, $24,759 more than the $54,133 at Cascadia 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, Gonzaga University or Cascadia College?
Cascadia College: its completers carry a median $6,368 in federal loans versus $24,454 at Gonzaga University, a difference of $18,086. 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?
86% of students finish at Gonzaga University, against 32% at Cascadia 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.