Head-to-head comparison
Ohlone College vs West Coast University-Ontario: which has better ROI?
Option A Fremont, CA
Ohlone College
- Net price / year
- $11,130
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,278
- Payback
- 3.8 yrs
Option B Ontario, CA
West Coast University-Ontario
- Net price / year
- $49,590
- Earnings, 10 years
- $102,672
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
West Coast University-Ontario has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $198,360 in 3.7 years versus 3.8 years at Ohlone College, on median earnings of $102,672 vs $54,278 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ohlone College | West Coast University-Ontario |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,130 | $49,590 |
| Total net cost | $22,260 | $198,360 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,278 | $102,672 |
| Median debt | — | $32,946 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $96,100 | $887,880 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ohlone College or West Coast University-Ontario?
Ohlone College, at $11,130 a year after aid versus $49,590 — a gap of $38,460 a year, or $176,100 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 Ohlone College or West Coast University-Ontario graduates earn more?
West Coast University-Ontario graduates report a median $102,672 ten years after entry, $48,394 more than the $54,278 at Ohlone 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?
52% of students finish at Ohlone College, against 39% at West Coast University-Ontario. 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.