Head-to-head comparison
West Coast University-Ontario vs Mount Saint Mary's University: which has better ROI?
Option A Ontario, CA
West Coast University-Ontario
- Net price / year
- $49,590
- Earnings, 10 years
- $102,672
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
Option B Los Angeles, CA
Mount Saint Mary's University
- Net price / year
- $21,413
- Earnings, 10 years
- $72,379
- Payback
- 3.6 yrs
Mount Saint Mary's University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $85,652 in 3.6 years versus 3.7 years at West Coast University-Ontario, on median earnings of $72,379 vs $102,672 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | West Coast University-Ontario | Mount Saint Mary's University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,590 | $21,413 |
| Total net cost | $198,360 | $85,652 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $102,672 | $72,379 |
| Median debt | $32,946 | $25,949 |
| Payback | 3.7 yrs | 3.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $887,880 | $394,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, West Coast University-Ontario or Mount Saint Mary's University?
Mount Saint Mary's University, at $21,413 a year after aid versus $49,590 — a gap of $28,177 a year, or $112,708 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 West Coast University-Ontario or Mount Saint Mary's University graduates earn more?
West Coast University-Ontario graduates report a median $102,672 ten years after entry, $30,293 more than the $72,379 at Mount Saint Mary's University. 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, West Coast University-Ontario or Mount Saint Mary's University?
Mount Saint Mary's University: its completers carry a median $25,949 in federal loans versus $32,946 at West Coast University-Ontario, a difference of $6,997. 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?
53% of students finish at Mount Saint Mary's University, against 39% at West Coast University-Ontario. 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.