Head-to-head comparison
Otis College of Art and Design vs John Paul the Great Catholic University: which has better ROI?
Option A Los Angeles, CA
Otis College of Art and Design
- Net price / year
- $51,248
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,152
- Payback
- 20.9 yrs
Option B Escondido, CA
John Paul the Great Catholic University
- Net price / year
- $34,666
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,930
- Payback
- 16.2 yrs
John Paul the Great Catholic University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $138,664 in 16.2 years versus 20.9 years at Otis College of Art and Design, on median earnings of $56,930 vs $58,152 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Otis College of Art and Design | John Paul the Great Catholic University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $51,248 | $34,666 |
| Total net cost | $204,992 | $138,664 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,152 | $56,930 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,968 |
| Payback | 20.9 yrs | 16.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$9,152 | $32,736 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Otis College of Art and Design or John Paul the Great Catholic University?
John Paul the Great Catholic University, at $34,666 a year after aid versus $51,248 — a gap of $16,582 a year, or $66,328 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 Otis College of Art and Design or John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates earn more?
Otis College of Art and Design graduates report a median $58,152 ten years after entry, $1,222 more than the $56,930 at John Paul the Great Catholic University. 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, Otis College of Art and Design or John Paul the Great Catholic University?
John Paul the Great Catholic University: its completers carry a median $26,968 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Otis College of Art and Design, a difference of $32. 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?
66% of students finish at Otis College of Art and Design, against 64% at John Paul the Great Catholic 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.