Head-to-head comparison
Napa Valley College vs The Master's University and Seminary: 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 Santa Clarita, CA
The Master's University and Seminary
- Net price / year
- $32,647
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,106
- Payback
- 14.9 yrs
The Master's University and Seminary has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $130,588 in 14.9 years versus 25.3 years at Napa Valley College, on median earnings of $57,106 vs $49,517 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Napa Valley College | The Master's University and Seminary |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,644 | $32,647 |
| Total net cost | $29,288 | $130,588 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,517 | $57,106 |
| Median debt | $10,147 | $20,500 |
| Payback | 25.3 yrs | 14.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$6,148 | $44,332 |
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 The Master's University and Seminary?
Napa Valley College, at $14,644 a year after aid versus $32,647 — a gap of $18,003 a year, or $101,300 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 The Master's University and Seminary graduates earn more?
The Master's University and Seminary graduates report a median $57,106 ten years after entry, $7,589 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 The Master's University and Seminary?
Napa Valley College: its completers carry a median $10,147 in federal loans versus $20,500 at The Master's University and Seminary, a difference of $10,353. 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?
68% of students finish at The Master's University and Seminary, 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.