Occidental College vs Brownson Technical School: which has better ROI?
Occidental College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $153,052 in 5.5 years versus 6 years at Brownson Technical School, on median earnings of $75,951 vs $68,767 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Occidental College | Brownson Technical School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,263 | $30,513 |
| Total net cost | $153,052 | $122,052 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,951 | $68,767 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | 5.5 yrs | 6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $398,768 | $286,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Occidental College or Brownson Technical School?
Brownson Technical School, at $30,513 a year after aid versus $38,263 — a gap of $7,750 a year, or $31,000 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Occidental College or Brownson Technical School graduates earn more?
Occidental College graduates report a median $75,951 ten years after entry, $7,184 more than the $68,767 at Brownson Technical School. 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, Occidental College or Brownson Technical School?
Brownson Technical School: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Occidental College, a difference of $13,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Brownson Technical School, against 81% at Occidental 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.