Head-to-head comparison
University of California-Berkeley vs Canada 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 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 1.2 years at University of California-Berkeley, on median earnings of $50,087 vs $92,446 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-Berkeley | Canada College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,481 | $32 |
| Total net cost | $53,924 | $64 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $92,446 | $50,087 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | — |
| Payback | 1.2 yrs | 0 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $827,796 | $34,476 |
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 Canada College?
Canada College, at $32 a year after aid versus $13,481 — a gap of $13,449 a year, or $53,860 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 Canada College graduates earn more?
University of California-Berkeley graduates report a median $92,446 ten years after entry, $42,359 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?
93% of students finish at University of California-Berkeley, 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.