Carrington College-San Jose — ROI, Cost & Payback
Carrington College-San Jose charges a net price of $36,466/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $145,864. Median earnings ten years after entry are $39,633, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Carrington College-San Jose does not clear its cost — it ranks #257 of 334 California colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $36,466/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $145,864 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $39,633 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$8,727/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,537 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$320,404 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Carrington College-San Jose's own numbers. Net price $36,466 × 4 years = $145,864 total. Median earnings $39,633 fall $8,727 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $145,864 bill in about 14.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Carrington College-San Jose students graduate with?
A median $11,537 in federal loans among completers, or 29% of the $39,633 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Carrington College-San Jose students graduate?
60% finish their degree — 40% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $145,864 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $243,107 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Carrington College-San Jose expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $36,466 net price runs $16,561 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $66,244 more across the full degree.