College of the Redwoods — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of the Redwoods charges a net price of $6,904/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $13,808. Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,243, 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, College of the Redwoods does not clear its cost — it ranks #222 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) | $6,904/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $13,808 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $36,243 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$12,117/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $8,080 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$256,148 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of the Redwoods's own numbers. Net price $6,904 × 2 years = $13,808 total. Median earnings $36,243 fall $12,117 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 $13,808 bill in about 1.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do College of the Redwoods students graduate with?
A median $8,080 in federal loans among completers, or 22% of the $36,243 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 Redwoods students graduate?
34% finish their degree — 66% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $13,808 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $40,612 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of the Redwoods expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $6,904 net price runs $13,001 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $26,002 less across the full degree.