Head-to-head comparison
University of California-Berkeley vs Berkeley City College: which has better ROI?
Option A Berkeley, CA
University of California-Berkeley
- Net price / year
- $13,481
- Earnings, 10 years
- $92,446
- Payback
- 1.2 yrs
Option B Berkeley, CA
Berkeley City College
- Net price / year
- $9,096
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,217
- Payback
- No payback
University of California-Berkeley has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $53,924 in 1.2 years versus not at all at Berkeley City College, on median earnings of $92,446 vs $41,217 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley City College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,481 | $9,096 |
| Total net cost | $53,924 | $18,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $92,446 | $41,217 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | — |
| Payback | 1.2 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $827,796 | -$161,052 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of California-Berkeley or Berkeley City College?
Berkeley City College, at $9,096 a year after aid versus $13,481 — a gap of $4,385 a year, or $35,732 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 University of California-Berkeley or Berkeley City College graduates earn more?
University of California-Berkeley graduates report a median $92,446 ten years after entry, $51,229 more than the $41,217 at Berkeley City 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?
93% of students finish at University of California-Berkeley, against 36% at Berkeley City 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.