Head-to-head comparison
Santa Clara University vs Mission College: which has better ROI?
Option A Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara University
- Net price / year
- $50,062
- Earnings, 10 years
- $109,183
- Payback
- 3.3 yrs
Option B Santa Clara, CA
Mission College
- Net price / year
- $5,080
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,936
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
Santa Clara University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $200,248 in 3.3 years versus 3.9 years at Mission College, on median earnings of $109,183 vs $50,936 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Santa Clara University | Mission College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $50,062 | $5,080 |
| Total net cost | $200,248 | $10,160 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $109,183 | $50,936 |
| Median debt | $19,162 | — |
| Payback | 3.3 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $1,016,212 | $41,360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Santa Clara University or Mission College?
Mission College, at $5,080 a year after aid versus $50,062 — a gap of $44,982 a year, or $190,088 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 Santa Clara University or Mission College graduates earn more?
Santa Clara University graduates report a median $109,183 ten years after entry, $58,247 more than the $50,936 at Mission 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?
88% of students finish at Santa Clara University, against 39% at Mission 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.