Head-to-head comparison
Mount Saint Mary's University vs Pacific Union College: which has better ROI?
Option A Los Angeles, CA
Mount Saint Mary's University
- Net price / year
- $21,413
- Earnings, 10 years
- $72,379
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Option B Angwin, CA
Pacific Union College
- Net price / year
- $41,008
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,484
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Mount Saint Mary's University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $85,652 in 3.6 years versus 3.7 years at Pacific Union College, on median earnings of $72,379 vs $70,484 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mount Saint Mary's University | Pacific Union College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,413 | $41,008 |
| Total net cost | $85,652 | $82,016 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $72,379 | $70,484 |
| Median debt | $25,949 | $27,500 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $394,728 | $360,464 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mount Saint Mary's University or Pacific Union College?
Mount Saint Mary's University, at $21,413 a year after aid versus $41,008 — a gap of $19,595 a year, or $3,636 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 Mount Saint Mary's University or Pacific Union College graduates earn more?
Mount Saint Mary's University graduates report a median $72,379 ten years after entry, $1,895 more than the $70,484 at Pacific Union 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, Mount Saint Mary's University or Pacific Union College?
Mount Saint Mary's University: its completers carry a median $25,949 in federal loans versus $27,500 at Pacific Union College, a difference of $1,551. 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?
58% of students finish at Pacific Union College, against 53% at Mount Saint Mary's University. 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.