College of the Canyons — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of the Canyons charges a net price of $3,702/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $7,404. Graduates earn a median $49,022 ten years after entry, $662/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 11.2 years — a 20-year net return of $5,836, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
College of the Canyons's 11.2-year payback ranks #837 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 35% of them, and #100 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $3,702/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $7,404 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,022 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $662/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $9,612 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 11.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $5,836 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of the Canyons's own numbers. Net price $3,702 × 2 years = $7,404 total. Median earnings $49,022 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $662 a year of premium. $7,404 ÷ $662 = 11.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $5,836. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do College of the Canyons students graduate with?
A median $9,612 in federal loans among completers, or 20% of the $49,022 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of the Canyons students graduate?
45% finish their degree — 55% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $7,404 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $16,453 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of the Canyons expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $3,702 net price runs $16,203 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $32,406 less across the full degree.