Head-to-head comparison
Las Positas College vs University of San Francisco: which has better ROI?
Option A Livermore, CA
Las Positas College
- Net price / year
- $5,377
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,088
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
Option B San Francisco, CA
University of San Francisco
- Net price / year
- $41,431
- Earnings, 10 years
- $89,812
- Payback
- 4 yrs
Las Positas College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $10,754 in 3.9 years versus 4 years at University of San Francisco, on median earnings of $51,088 vs $89,812 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Las Positas College | University of San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,377 | $41,431 |
| Total net cost | $10,754 | $165,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,088 | $89,812 |
| Median debt | — | $23,000 |
| Payback | 3.9 yrs | 4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $43,806 | $663,316 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Las Positas College or University of San Francisco?
Las Positas College, at $5,377 a year after aid versus $41,431 — a gap of $36,054 a year, or $154,970 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 Las Positas College or University of San Francisco graduates earn more?
University of San Francisco graduates report a median $89,812 ten years after entry, $38,724 more than the $51,088 at Las Positas 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?
70% of students finish at University of San Francisco, against 53% at Las Positas 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.