Head-to-head comparison
Mission College vs Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science: which has better ROI?
Option A Santa Clara, CA
Mission College
- Net price / year
- $5,080
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,936
- Payback
- 3.9 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
Mission College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $10,160 in 3.9 years versus 4.1 years at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, on median earnings of $50,936 vs $83,438 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mission College | Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,080 | $35,558 |
| Total net cost | $10,160 | $142,232 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,936 | $83,438 |
| Median debt | — | $18,750 |
| Payback | 3.9 yrs | 4.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $41,360 | $559,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mission College or Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science?
Mission College, at $5,080 a year after aid versus $35,558 — a gap of $30,478 a year, or $132,072 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 Mission 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, $32,502 more than the $50,936 at Mission 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?
39% of students finish at Mission 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.