Napa Valley College vs California College of the Arts: which has better ROI?
Napa Valley College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $29,288 in 25.3 years versus 204.6 years at California College of the Arts, on median earnings of $49,517 vs $49,414 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Napa Valley College | California College of the Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,644 | $53,909 |
| Total net cost | $29,288 | $215,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,517 | $49,414 |
| Median debt | $10,147 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 25.3 yrs | 204.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$6,148 | -$194,556 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Napa Valley College or California College of the Arts?
Napa Valley College, at $14,644 a year after aid versus $53,909 — a gap of $39,265 a year, or $186,348 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 California College of the Arts graduates earn more?
Napa Valley College graduates report a median $49,517 ten years after entry, $103 more than the $49,414 at California College of the Arts. 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 California College of the Arts?
Napa Valley College: its completers carry a median $10,147 in federal loans versus $27,000 at California College of the Arts, a difference of $16,853. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
61% of students finish at California College of the Arts, 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.