Head-to-head comparison
Moreno Valley College vs Santa Clara University: which has better ROI?
Option A Moreno Valley, CA
Moreno Valley College
- Net price / year
- $6,483
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,133
- Payback
- 3.4 yrs
Option B Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara University
- Net price / year
- $50,062
- Earnings, 10 years
- $109,183
- Payback
- 3.3 yrs
Santa Clara University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $200,248 in 3.3 years versus 3.4 years at Moreno Valley College, on median earnings of $109,183 vs $52,133 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Moreno Valley College | Santa Clara University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,483 | $50,062 |
| Total net cost | $12,966 | $200,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,133 | $109,183 |
| Median debt | — | $19,162 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 3.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $62,494 | $1,016,212 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Moreno Valley College or Santa Clara University?
Moreno Valley College, at $6,483 a year after aid versus $50,062 — a gap of $43,579 a year, or $187,282 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 Moreno Valley College or Santa Clara University graduates earn more?
Santa Clara University graduates report a median $109,183 ten years after entry, $57,050 more than the $52,133 at Moreno Valley 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?
88% of students finish at Santa Clara University, against 34% at Moreno Valley 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.