Head-to-head comparison
Irvine Valley College vs Evergreen Valley College: which has better ROI?
Option A Irvine, CA
Irvine Valley College
- Net price / year
- $2,090
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,156
- Payback
- 5.3 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 5.3 years at Irvine Valley College, on median earnings of $53,077 vs $49,156 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Irvine Valley College | Evergreen Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,090 | $12,414 |
| Total net cost | $4,180 | $24,828 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,156 | $53,077 |
| Median debt | $6,500 | $13,219 |
| Payback | 5.3 yrs | 5.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $11,740 | $69,512 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Irvine Valley College or Evergreen Valley College?
Irvine Valley College, at $2,090 a year after aid versus $12,414 — a gap of $10,324 a year, or $20,648 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 Irvine Valley College or Evergreen Valley College graduates earn more?
Evergreen Valley College graduates report a median $53,077 ten years after entry, $3,921 more than the $49,156 at Irvine 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, Irvine Valley College or Evergreen Valley College?
Irvine Valley College: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $13,219 at Evergreen Valley College, a difference of $6,719. 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?
57% of students finish at Irvine 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.