Head-to-head comparison
Norco College vs Mount Saint Mary's University: which has better ROI?
Option A Norco, CA
Norco College
- Net price / year
- $5,169
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,206
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Option B Los Angeles, CA
Mount Saint Mary's University
- Net price / year
- $21,413
- Earnings, 10 years
- $72,379
- Payback
- 3.6 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 3.6 years at Norco College, on median earnings of $72,379 vs $51,206 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Norco College | Mount Saint Mary's University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,169 | $21,413 |
| Total net cost | $10,338 | $85,652 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,206 | $72,379 |
| Median debt | — | $25,949 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | 3.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $46,582 | $394,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Norco College or Mount Saint Mary's University?
Norco College, at $5,169 a year after aid versus $21,413 — a gap of $16,244 a year, or $75,314 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 Norco College or Mount Saint Mary's University graduates earn more?
Mount Saint Mary's University graduates report a median $72,379 ten years after entry, $21,173 more than the $51,206 at Norco 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?
53% of students finish at Mount Saint Mary's University, against 42% at Norco 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.