Head-to-head comparison
Napa Valley College vs Simpson University: which has better ROI?
Option A Napa, CA
Napa Valley College
- Net price / year
- $14,644
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,517
- Payback
- 25.3 yrs
Option B Redding, CA
Simpson University
- Net price / year
- $27,817
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,340
- Payback
- 18.6 yrs
Simpson University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $111,268 in 18.6 years versus 25.3 years at Napa Valley College, on median earnings of $54,340 vs $49,517 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Napa Valley College | Simpson University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,644 | $27,817 |
| Total net cost | $29,288 | $111,268 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,517 | $54,340 |
| Median debt | $10,147 | $18,750 |
| Payback | 25.3 yrs | 18.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$6,148 | $8,332 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Napa Valley College or Simpson University?
Napa Valley College, at $14,644 a year after aid versus $27,817 — a gap of $13,173 a year, or $81,980 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 Napa Valley College or Simpson University graduates earn more?
Simpson University graduates report a median $54,340 ten years after entry, $4,823 more than the $49,517 at Napa 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 leaves students with less debt, Napa Valley College or Simpson University?
Napa Valley College: its completers carry a median $10,147 in federal loans versus $18,750 at Simpson University, a difference of $8,603. 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?
49% of students finish at Simpson University, against 43% at Napa 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.