Head-to-head comparison
Laney College vs Merritt College: which has better ROI?
Option A Oakland, CA
Laney College
- Net price / year
- $17,110
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,282
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Oakland, CA
Merritt College
- Net price / year
- $14,021
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,392
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Merritt College comes closer — median earnings $44,392 against a $56,084 total, vs $37,282 at Laney College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Laney College | Merritt College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,110 | $14,021 |
| Total net cost | $34,220 | $56,084 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,282 | $44,392 |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$255,780 | -$135,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Laney College or Merritt College?
Merritt College, at $14,021 a year after aid versus $17,110 — a gap of $3,089 a year, or $21,864 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 Laney College or Merritt College graduates earn more?
Merritt College graduates report a median $44,392 ten years after entry, $7,110 more than the $37,282 at Laney 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?
31% of students finish at Laney College, against 26% at Merritt 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.