Napa Valley College vs Otis College of Art and Design: which has better ROI?
Otis College of Art and Design has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $204,992 in 20.9 years versus 25.3 years at Napa Valley College, on median earnings of $58,152 vs $49,517 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Napa Valley College | Otis College of Art and Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,644 | $51,248 |
| Total net cost | $29,288 | $204,992 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,517 | $58,152 |
| Median debt | $10,147 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 25.3 yrs | 20.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$6,148 | -$9,152 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Napa Valley College or Otis College of Art and Design?
Napa Valley College, at $14,644 a year after aid versus $51,248 — a gap of $36,604 a year, or $175,704 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 Otis College of Art and Design graduates earn more?
Otis College of Art and Design graduates report a median $58,152 ten years after entry, $8,635 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 Otis College of Art and Design?
Napa Valley College: its completers carry a median $10,147 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Otis College of Art and Design, 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?
66% of students finish at Otis College of Art and Design, 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.