Head-to-head comparison
Otis College of Art and Design vs Southern California Institute of Technology: 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 Anaheim, CA
Southern California Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $33,392
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,598
- Payback
- 25.5 yrs
Otis College of Art and Design has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $204,992 in 20.9 years versus 25.5 years at Southern California Institute of Technology, on median earnings of $58,152 vs $53,598 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Otis College of Art and Design | Southern California Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $51,248 | $33,392 |
| Total net cost | $204,992 | $133,568 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,152 | $53,598 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $10,798 |
| Payback | 20.9 yrs | 25.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$9,152 | -$28,808 |
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 Southern California Institute of Technology?
Southern California Institute of Technology, at $33,392 a year after aid versus $51,248 — a gap of $17,856 a year, or $71,424 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 Southern California Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Otis College of Art and Design graduates report a median $58,152 ten years after entry, $4,554 more than the $53,598 at Southern California Institute of Technology. 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 Southern California Institute of Technology?
Southern California Institute of Technology: its completers carry a median $10,798 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Otis College of Art and Design, a difference of $16,202. 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?
74% of students finish at Southern California Institute of Technology, against 66% at Otis College of Art and Design. 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.