Head-to-head comparison
Loyola Marymount University vs Concordia University-Irvine: which has better ROI?
Option A Los Angeles, CA
Loyola Marymount University
- Net price / year
- $48,381
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,349
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Option B Irvine, CA
Concordia University-Irvine
- Net price / year
- $28,115
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,083
- Payback
- 6.7 yrs
Loyola Marymount University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $193,524 in 6.5 years versus 6.7 years at Concordia University-Irvine, on median earnings of $78,349 vs $65,083 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Loyola Marymount University | Concordia University-Irvine |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $48,381 | $28,115 |
| Total net cost | $193,524 | $112,460 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,349 | $65,083 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $24,247 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | 6.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $406,256 | $222,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Loyola Marymount University or Concordia University-Irvine?
Concordia University-Irvine, at $28,115 a year after aid versus $48,381 — a gap of $20,266 a year, or $81,064 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 Loyola Marymount University or Concordia University-Irvine graduates earn more?
Loyola Marymount University graduates report a median $78,349 ten years after entry, $13,266 more than the $65,083 at Concordia University-Irvine. 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, Loyola Marymount University or Concordia University-Irvine?
Loyola Marymount University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $24,247 at Concordia University-Irvine, a difference of $4,747. 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?
79% of students finish at Loyola Marymount University, against 58% at Concordia University-Irvine. 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.