Head-to-head comparison
Otis College of Art and Design vs Simpson 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 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 20.9 years at Otis College of Art and Design, on median earnings of $54,340 vs $58,152 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Otis College of Art and Design | Simpson University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $51,248 | $27,817 |
| Total net cost | $204,992 | $111,268 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,152 | $54,340 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $18,750 |
| Payback | 20.9 yrs | 18.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$9,152 | $8,332 |
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 Simpson University?
Simpson University, at $27,817 a year after aid versus $51,248 — a gap of $23,431 a year, or $93,724 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 Simpson University graduates earn more?
Otis College of Art and Design graduates report a median $58,152 ten years after entry, $3,812 more than the $54,340 at Simpson 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 Simpson University?
Simpson University: its completers carry a median $18,750 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Otis College of Art and Design, a difference of $8,250. 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 49% at Simpson 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.