Head-to-head comparison
University of California-Berkeley vs Skyline 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 San Bruno, CA
Skyline College
- Net price / year
- $1,738
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,702
- Payback
- 0.5 yrs
Skyline College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $3,476 in 0.5 years versus 1.2 years at University of California-Berkeley, on median earnings of $55,702 vs $92,446 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-Berkeley | Skyline College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,481 | $1,738 |
| Total net cost | $53,924 | $3,476 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $92,446 | $55,702 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | — |
| Payback | 1.2 yrs | 0.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $827,796 | $143,364 |
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 Skyline College?
Skyline College, at $1,738 a year after aid versus $13,481 — a gap of $11,743 a year, or $50,448 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 Skyline College graduates earn more?
University of California-Berkeley graduates report a median $92,446 ten years after entry, $36,744 more than the $55,702 at Skyline 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 44% at Skyline 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.