Head-to-head comparison
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California vs La Sierra University: which has better ROI?
Option A Long Beach, CA
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California
- Net price / year
- $27,506
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,873
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
Option B Riverside, CA
La Sierra University
- Net price / year
- $45,566
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,824
- Payback
- 13.5 yrs
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $55,012 in 12.2 years versus 13.5 years at La Sierra University, on median earnings of $52,873 vs $61,824 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute-Southern California | La Sierra University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,506 | $45,566 |
| Total net cost | $55,012 | $182,264 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,873 | $61,824 |
| Median debt | $13,124 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 12.2 yrs | 13.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $35,248 | $87,016 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Universal Technical Institute-Southern California or La Sierra University?
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California, at $27,506 a year after aid versus $45,566 — a gap of $18,060 a year, or $127,252 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 Universal Technical Institute-Southern California or La Sierra University graduates earn more?
La Sierra University graduates report a median $61,824 ten years after entry, $8,951 more than the $52,873 at Universal Technical Institute-Southern California. 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, Universal Technical Institute-Southern California or La Sierra University?
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California: its completers carry a median $13,124 in federal loans versus $27,000 at La Sierra University, a difference of $13,876. 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 Universal Technical Institute-Southern California, against 60% at La Sierra 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.