Head-to-head comparison
Smith Chason College vs Concordia University-Irvine: which has better ROI?
Option A Los Angeles, CA
Smith Chason College
- Net price / year
- $34,367
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,004
- Payback
- 7.1 yrs
Option B Irvine, CA
Concordia University-Irvine
- Net price / year
- $28,115
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,083
- Payback
- 6.7 yrs
Concordia University-Irvine has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,460 in 6.7 years versus 7.1 years at Smith Chason College, on median earnings of $65,083 vs $58,004 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Smith Chason College | Concordia University-Irvine |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,367 | $28,115 |
| Total net cost | $68,734 | $112,460 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,004 | $65,083 |
| Median debt | $21,397 | $24,247 |
| Payback | 7.1 yrs | 6.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $124,146 | $222,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Smith Chason College or Concordia University-Irvine?
Concordia University-Irvine, at $28,115 a year after aid versus $34,367 — a gap of $6,252 a year, or $43,726 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 Smith Chason College or Concordia University-Irvine graduates earn more?
Concordia University-Irvine graduates report a median $65,083 ten years after entry, $7,079 more than the $58,004 at Smith Chason 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, Smith Chason College or Concordia University-Irvine?
Smith Chason College: its completers carry a median $21,397 in federal loans versus $24,247 at Concordia University-Irvine, a difference of $2,850. 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?
72% of students finish at Smith Chason College, against 58% at Concordia University-Irvine. 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.