Head-to-head comparison
University of California-Los Angeles vs De Anza College: which has better ROI?
Option A Los Angeles, CA
University of California-Los Angeles
- Net price / year
- $12,548
- Earnings, 10 years
- $82,511
- Payback
- 1.5 yrs
Option B Cupertino, CA
De Anza College
- Net price / year
- $6,642
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,596
- Payback
- 1.6 yrs
University of California-Los Angeles has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $50,192 in 1.5 years versus 1.6 years at De Anza College, on median earnings of $82,511 vs $56,596 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-Los Angeles | De Anza College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,548 | $6,642 |
| Total net cost | $50,192 | $13,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $82,511 | $56,596 |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $5,625 |
| Payback | 1.5 yrs | 1.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $632,828 | $151,436 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of California-Los Angeles or De Anza College?
De Anza College, at $6,642 a year after aid versus $12,548 — a gap of $5,906 a year, or $36,908 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-Los Angeles or De Anza College graduates earn more?
University of California-Los Angeles graduates report a median $82,511 ten years after entry, $25,915 more than the $56,596 at De Anza 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 leaves students with less debt, University of California-Los Angeles or De Anza College?
De Anza College: its completers carry a median $5,625 in federal loans versus $14,000 at University of California-Los Angeles, a difference of $8,375. 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?
93% of students finish at University of California-Los Angeles, against 68% at De Anza 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.