Head-to-head comparison
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California vs William Jessup 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 Rocklin, CA
William Jessup University
- Net price / year
- $28,062
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,257
- Payback
- 14.2 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 14.2 years at William Jessup University, on median earnings of $52,873 vs $56,257 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute-Southern California | William Jessup University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,506 | $28,062 |
| Total net cost | $55,012 | $112,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,873 | $56,257 |
| Median debt | $13,124 | $23,700 |
| Payback | 12.2 yrs | 14.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $35,248 | $45,692 |
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 William Jessup University?
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California, at $27,506 a year after aid versus $28,062 — a gap of $556 a year, or $57,236 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 William Jessup University graduates earn more?
William Jessup University graduates report a median $56,257 ten years after entry, $3,384 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 William Jessup University?
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California: its completers carry a median $13,124 in federal loans versus $23,700 at William Jessup University, a difference of $10,576. 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 56% at William Jessup 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.