Mission College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Mission College charges a net price of $5,080/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $10,160. Graduates earn a median $50,936 ten years after entry, $2,576/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.9 years — a 20-year net return of $41,360, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Mission College's 3.9-year payback ranks #280 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 78% of them, and #63 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $5,080/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $10,160 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $50,936 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $2,576/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | — | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $41,360 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Mission College's own numbers. Net price $5,080 × 2 years = $10,160 total. Median earnings $50,936 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,576 a year of premium. $10,160 ÷ $2,576 = 3.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $41,360. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
What share of Mission College students graduate?
39% finish their degree — 61% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $10,160 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $26,051 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Mission College expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $5,080 net price runs $14,825 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $29,650 less across the full degree.