College of the Sequoias vs San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Sequoias comes closer — median earnings $39,092 against a $1,920 total, vs $38,317 at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Sequoias | San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $480 | $27,854 |
| Total net cost | $1,920 | $111,416 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,092 | $38,317 |
| Median debt | $4,500 | $10,674 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$187,280 | -$312,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of the Sequoias or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia?
College of the Sequoias, at $480 a year after aid versus $27,854 — a gap of $27,374 a year, or $109,496 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 Sequoias or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates earn more?
College of the Sequoias graduates report a median $39,092 ten years after entry, $775 more than the $38,317 at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia. 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 Sequoias or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia?
College of the Sequoias: its completers carry a median $4,500 in federal loans versus $10,674 at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia, a difference of $6,174. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at College of the Sequoias, against 36% at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia. 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.