Head-to-head comparison
Stanford University vs Canada College: which has better ROI?
Option A Stanford, CA
Stanford University
- Net price / year
- $13,807
- Earnings, 10 years
- $124,080
- Payback
- 0.7 yrs
Option B Redwood City, CA
Canada College
- Net price / year
- $32
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,087
- Payback
- 0 yrs
Canada College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $64 in 0 years versus 0.7 years at Stanford University, on median earnings of $50,087 vs $124,080 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stanford University | Canada College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,807 | $32 |
| Total net cost | $55,228 | $64 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $124,080 | $50,087 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | — |
| Payback | 0.7 yrs | 0 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $1,459,172 | $34,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Stanford University or Canada College?
Canada College, at $32 a year after aid versus $13,807 — a gap of $13,775 a year, or $55,164 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 Stanford University or Canada College graduates earn more?
Stanford University graduates report a median $124,080 ten years after entry, $73,993 more than the $50,087 at Canada 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?
92% of students finish at Stanford University, against 47% at Canada 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.