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.)
| 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.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 2 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.