Head-to-head comparison
Gonzaga University vs Spokane Community 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 Spokane, WA
Spokane Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,473
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,984
- Payback
- No payback
Gonzaga University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $140,476 in 4.6 years versus not at all at Spokane Community College, on median earnings of $78,892 vs $41,984 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Gonzaga University | Spokane Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $35,119 | $5,473 |
| Total net cost | $140,476 | $10,946 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,892 | $41,984 |
| Median debt | $24,454 | $13,501 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $470,164 | -$138,466 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Gonzaga University or Spokane Community College?
Spokane Community College, at $5,473 a year after aid versus $35,119 — a gap of $29,646 a year, or $129,530 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 Spokane Community College graduates earn more?
Gonzaga University graduates report a median $78,892 ten years after entry, $36,908 more than the $41,984 at Spokane Community 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 Spokane Community College?
Spokane Community College: its completers carry a median $13,501 in federal loans versus $24,454 at Gonzaga University, a difference of $10,953. 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 33% at Spokane Community 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.