Head-to-head comparison
Sonoma State University vs Pacific College: which has better ROI?
Option A Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma State University
- Net price / year
- $12,885
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,986
- Payback
- 2.9 yrs
Option B Costa Mesa, CA
Pacific College
- Net price / year
- $29,363
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,064
- Payback
- 2.7 yrs
Pacific College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $58,726 in 2.7 years versus 2.9 years at Sonoma State University, on median earnings of $70,064 vs $65,986 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Sonoma State University | Pacific College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,885 | $29,363 |
| Total net cost | $51,540 | $58,726 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $65,986 | $70,064 |
| Median debt | $16,705 | $22,469 |
| Payback | 2.9 yrs | 2.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $300,980 | $375,354 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Sonoma State University or Pacific College?
Sonoma State University, at $12,885 a year after aid versus $29,363 — a gap of $16,478 a year, or $7,186 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 Sonoma State University or Pacific College graduates earn more?
Pacific College graduates report a median $70,064 ten years after entry, $4,078 more than the $65,986 at Sonoma State University. 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, Sonoma State University or Pacific College?
Sonoma State University: its completers carry a median $16,705 in federal loans versus $22,469 at Pacific College, a difference of $5,764. 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?
63% of students finish at Pacific College, against 58% at Sonoma State University. 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.