Head-to-head comparison
Menlo College vs Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science: which has better ROI?
Option A Atherton, CA
Menlo College
- Net price / year
- $31,100
- Earnings, 10 years
- $76,419
- Payback
- 4.4 yrs
Option B Los Angeles, CA
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Net price / year
- $35,558
- Earnings, 10 years
- $83,438
- Payback
- 4.1 yrs
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $142,232 in 4.1 years versus 4.4 years at Menlo College, on median earnings of $83,438 vs $76,419 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Menlo College | Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,100 | $35,558 |
| Total net cost | $124,400 | $142,232 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $76,419 | $83,438 |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $18,750 |
| Payback | 4.4 yrs | 4.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $436,780 | $559,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Menlo College or Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science?
Menlo College, at $31,100 a year after aid versus $35,558 — a gap of $4,458 a year, or $17,832 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 Menlo College or Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science graduates earn more?
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science graduates report a median $83,438 ten years after entry, $7,019 more than the $76,419 at Menlo 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, Menlo College or Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science?
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science: its completers carry a median $18,750 in federal loans versus $21,750 at Menlo College, a difference of $3,000. 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?
54% of students finish at Menlo College, against 30% at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science. 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.