Head-to-head comparison
University of California-San Diego vs Canada College: which has better ROI?
Option A La Jolla, CA
University of California-San Diego
- Net price / year
- $12,470
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,943
- Payback
- 1.4 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 1.4 years at University of California-San Diego, on median earnings of $50,087 vs $84,943 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of California-San Diego | Canada College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,470 | $32 |
| Total net cost | $49,880 | $64 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,943 | $50,087 |
| Median debt | $15,500 | — |
| Payback | 1.4 yrs | 0 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $681,780 | $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-San Diego or Canada College?
Canada College, at $32 a year after aid versus $12,470 — a gap of $12,438 a year, or $49,816 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-San Diego or Canada College graduates earn more?
University of California-San Diego graduates report a median $84,943 ten years after entry, $34,856 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?
86% of students finish at University of California-San Diego, 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.