College of the Canyons vs Universal Technical Institute-Southern California: which has better ROI?
College of the Canyons has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $7,404 in 11.2 years versus 12.2 years at Universal Technical Institute-Southern California, on median earnings of $49,022 vs $52,873 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Canyons | Universal Technical Institute-Southern California |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,702 | $27,506 |
| Total net cost | $7,404 | $55,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,022 | $52,873 |
| Median debt | $9,612 | $13,124 |
| Payback | 11.2 yrs | 12.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $5,836 | $35,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of the Canyons or Universal Technical Institute-Southern California?
College of the Canyons, at $3,702 a year after aid versus $27,506 — a gap of $23,804 a year, or $47,608 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of the Canyons or Universal Technical Institute-Southern California graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California graduates report a median $52,873 ten years after entry, $3,851 more than the $49,022 at College of the Canyons. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, College of the Canyons or Universal Technical Institute-Southern California?
College of the Canyons: its completers carry a median $9,612 in federal loans versus $13,124 at Universal Technical Institute-Southern California, a difference of $3,512. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at Universal Technical Institute-Southern California, against 45% at College of the Canyons. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.