Head-to-head comparison
San Diego State University vs Norco College: which has better ROI?
Option A San Diego, CA
San Diego State University
- Net price / year
- $15,364
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,909
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Option B Norco, CA
Norco College
- Net price / year
- $5,169
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,206
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Norco College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $10,338 in 3.6 years versus 3.7 years at San Diego State University, on median earnings of $51,206 vs $64,909 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Diego State University | Norco College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,364 | $5,169 |
| Total net cost | $61,456 | $10,338 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,909 | $51,206 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | — |
| Payback | 3.7 yrs | 3.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $269,524 | $46,582 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, San Diego State University or Norco College?
Norco College, at $5,169 a year after aid versus $15,364 — a gap of $10,195 a year, or $51,118 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 San Diego State University or Norco College graduates earn more?
San Diego State University graduates report a median $64,909 ten years after entry, $13,703 more than the $51,206 at Norco 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?
76% of students finish at San Diego State University, against 42% at Norco 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.