Head-to-head comparison
Pitzer College vs Brownson Technical School: which has better ROI?
Option A Claremont, CA
Pitzer College
- Net price / year
- $34,191
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,512
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Option B Anaheim, CA
Brownson Technical School
- Net price / year
- $30,513
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,767
- Payback
- 6 yrs
Brownson Technical School has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $122,052 in 6 years versus 6.5 years at Pitzer College, on median earnings of $68,767 vs $69,512 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pitzer College | Brownson Technical School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,191 | $30,513 |
| Total net cost | $136,764 | $122,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,512 | $68,767 |
| Median debt | $16,750 | $9,500 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | 6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $286,276 | $286,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pitzer College or Brownson Technical School?
Brownson Technical School, at $30,513 a year after aid versus $34,191 — a gap of $3,678 a year, or $14,712 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 Pitzer College or Brownson Technical School graduates earn more?
Pitzer College graduates report a median $69,512 ten years after entry, $745 more than the $68,767 at Brownson Technical School. 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, Pitzer College or Brownson Technical School?
Brownson Technical School: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $16,750 at Pitzer College, a difference of $7,250. 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?
89% of students finish at Brownson Technical School, against 83% at Pitzer 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.