Head-to-head comparison
San Jose State University vs Evergreen Valley College: which has better ROI?
Option A San Jose, CA
San Jose State University
- Net price / year
- $13,760
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,988
- Payback
- 1.8 yrs
Option B San Jose, CA
Evergreen Valley College
- Net price / year
- $12,414
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,077
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
San Jose State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $55,040 in 1.8 years versus 5.3 years at Evergreen Valley College, on median earnings of $78,988 vs $53,077 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | San Jose State University | Evergreen Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,760 | $12,414 |
| Total net cost | $55,040 | $24,828 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,988 | $53,077 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $13,219 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | 5.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $557,520 | $69,512 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, San Jose State University or Evergreen Valley College?
Evergreen Valley College, at $12,414 a year after aid versus $13,760 — a gap of $1,346 a year, or $30,212 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 Jose State University or Evergreen Valley College graduates earn more?
San Jose State University graduates report a median $78,988 ten years after entry, $25,911 more than the $53,077 at Evergreen Valley 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 leaves students with less debt, San Jose State University or Evergreen Valley College?
Evergreen Valley College: its completers carry a median $13,219 in federal loans versus $15,000 at San Jose State University, a difference of $1,781. 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?
69% of students finish at San Jose State University, against 41% at Evergreen Valley 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.