Head-to-head comparison
West Coast University-Ontario vs Pacific Union College: 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 Angwin, CA
Pacific Union College
- Net price / year
- $41,008
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,484
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
West Coast University-Ontario has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $198,360 in 3.7 years versus 3.7 years at Pacific Union College, on median earnings of $102,672 vs $70,484 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | West Coast University-Ontario | Pacific Union College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $49,590 | $41,008 |
| Total net cost | $198,360 | $82,016 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $102,672 | $70,484 |
| Median debt | $32,946 | $27,500 |
| Payback | 3.7 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $887,880 | $360,464 |
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 Pacific Union College?
Pacific Union College, at $41,008 a year after aid versus $49,590 — a gap of $8,582 a year, or $116,344 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 Pacific Union College graduates earn more?
West Coast University-Ontario graduates report a median $102,672 ten years after entry, $32,188 more than the $70,484 at Pacific Union 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, West Coast University-Ontario or Pacific Union College?
Pacific Union College: its completers carry a median $27,500 in federal loans versus $32,946 at West Coast University-Ontario, a difference of $5,446. 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?
58% of students finish at Pacific Union College, 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.