Napa Valley College vs Biola University: which has better ROI?
Biola University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $125,980 in 15 years versus 25.3 years at Napa Valley College, on median earnings of $56,778 vs $49,517 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Napa Valley College | Biola University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,644 | $31,495 |
| Total net cost | $29,288 | $125,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,517 | $56,778 |
| Median debt | $10,147 | $23,875 |
| Payback | 25.3 yrs | 15 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$6,148 | $42,380 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Napa Valley College or Biola University?
Napa Valley College, at $14,644 a year after aid versus $31,495 — a gap of $16,851 a year, or $96,692 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Napa Valley College or Biola University graduates earn more?
Biola University graduates report a median $56,778 ten years after entry, $7,261 more than the $49,517 at Napa Valley College. 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, Napa Valley College or Biola University?
Napa Valley College: its completers carry a median $10,147 in federal loans versus $23,875 at Biola University, a difference of $13,728. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Biola University, against 43% at Napa Valley College. 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.