Pacific Union College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Pacific Union College charges a net price of $41,008/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $82,016. Graduates earn a median $70,484 ten years after entry, $22,124/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.7 years — a 20-year net return of $360,464, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Pacific Union College's 3.7-year payback ranks #255 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 80% of them, and #56 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $41,008/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $82,016 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $70,484 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $22,124/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $360,464 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Pacific Union College's own numbers. Net price $41,008 × 2 years = $82,016 total. Median earnings $70,484 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $22,124 a year of premium. $82,016 ÷ $22,124 = 3.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $360,464. 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 Pacific Union College students graduate with?
A median $27,500 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $70,484 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Pacific Union College students graduate?
58% finish their degree — 42% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $82,016 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $141,407 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Pacific Union College expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $41,008 net price runs $21,103 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $42,206 more across the full degree.