De Anza College — ROI, Cost & Payback
De Anza College charges a net price of $6,642/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $13,284. Graduates earn a median $56,596 ten years after entry, $8,236/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 1.6 years — a 20-year net return of $151,436, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
De Anza College's 1.6-year payback ranks #45 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 97% of them, and #15 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $6,642/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $13,284 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $56,596 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $8,236/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $5,625 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 1.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $151,436 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on De Anza College's own numbers. Net price $6,642 × 2 years = $13,284 total. Median earnings $56,596 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,236 a year of premium. $13,284 ÷ $8,236 = 1.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $151,436. 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 De Anza College students graduate with?
A median $5,625 in federal loans among completers, or 10% of the $56,596 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of De Anza College students graduate?
68% finish their degree — 32% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $13,284 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $19,535 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is De Anza College expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $6,642 net price runs $13,263 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $26,526 less across the full degree.