University of La Verne
La Verne, California · Private Nonprofit · 71.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 70/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of La Verne earns a Fair Value tier with an overall ROI score of 70 out of 100. The numbers tell a coherent story: tuition is $49,470 per year (heavy sticker), but generous institutional aid drops the average net price to $20,161, putting the four-year cost at $80,644. Median 10-year earnings are $65,464, a strong 37.8% premium over high school graduates (sub-score 80), and the payback period is a fast 7.2 years (sub-score 81). Median debt of $23,500 against the strong earnings produces a healthy 0.513 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 71). The 63.1% completion rate is decent, and the school's commitment to serving Hispanic and first-generation students is a genuine institutional strength. The one weak signal is the 62.4% three-year repayment rate (sub-score 21).
University of La Verne
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $49,470/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $49,470/yr |
| Average net price | $20,161/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $80,644 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $65,464 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $249 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,050 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $49,470/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,161/year, or roughly $80,644 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $20,151/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,500, which works out to about $249 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,800) and comes to 0.51, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,151 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,212 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $20,151 per year. Over four years that's roughly $81,000 - still substantial, but Pell and Cal Grant aid likely offset some of this. With strong earnings outcomes for completers, the math works for low-income students who finish, particularly in business or CS tracks. The 51.4% Pell rate confirms that La Verne does succeed in serving low-income California families.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Net price data for the $48,001-$75,000, $75,001-$110,000, and $110,001-plus brackets is not reported in current Scorecard data, likely because not enough middle and upper-income students enroll for stable averages. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $27,212 - a notable jump from the lowest bracket, suggesting Pell aid drops off quickly. Middle-income families should run the net price calculator carefully.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price data for the higher brackets is not reported. Higher-income families would likely pay close to sticker. La Verne's value proposition is heavily tilted toward lower and lower-middle income California families.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of La Verne with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $76,769 | B |
| Psychology | $56,925 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $54,898 | D |
| Biology | $58,897 | F |
| Political Science and Government | $47,273 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $90,694 | C+ |
| Accounting | $77,520 | C+ |
| Sociology | $61,350 | C |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $45,712 | C |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $66,373 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is overwhelmingly La Verne's largest program with 260 graduates per year - nearly 9% of the school's enrollment. Median first-year earnings of $57,154 and four-year earnings of $76,769 against $25,000 of debt produce a 0.437 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. For a private university, this is a genuinely strong outcome - LA-area business labor market access plus contained debt. This is the program that anchors La Verne's value proposition.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 93 students per year with a D ROI grade. Median first-year earnings of $27,540 against $24,003 of debt produce a 0.872 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four-year earnings rise to $56,925, suggesting many psychology graduates progress to graduate school. As a stand-alone bachelor's the credential is weak; students should plan for advanced degrees.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Subject-Specific Teacher Education graduates 65 students per year with a D ROI grade. Median first-year earnings of $27,616 reflect the standard pay scale for new California teachers. Four-year earnings climb to $54,898 as teachers move up the pay scale. Debt of $23,533 produces a 0.852 debt-to-earnings ratio - challenging in early career, more manageable mid-career given California teacher salary growth and loan-forgiveness programs.
Biology
Biology graduates 63 students per year with an F ROI grade. Median first-year earnings of just $22,650 against $26,000 of debt produce a 1.148 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four-year earnings rise dramatically to $58,897, indicating most biology graduates do progress to graduate or professional school. Pre-health students with clear graduate plans can capture real value here; otherwise the bachelor's alone is financially difficult.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 22 students per year with a C+ ROI grade. Median first-year earnings of $58,985 and four-year earnings of $77,520 are strong, but $30,853 of debt holds the grade just below B territory. Accounting careers progress reliably, and the LA labor market provides ample opportunity. A defensible value play.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 54.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 63.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of La Verne’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 71.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 488-573 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 498-663 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-25 |
| Enrollment | 3,050 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 51.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,550 |
La Verne admits 71.2% of applicants. The 63.1% completion rate is reasonable given the high Pell rate (51.4%). The 51.4% Pell rate combined with strong graduate outcomes makes La Verne a solid economic-mobility play.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of La Verne (this school) | 70 | $20,161 | $65,464 |
| Widener University | 74 | $25,759 | $70,920 |
| St. Joseph's University-New York | 72 | $19,035 | $63,905 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Elmhurst University | 68 | $24,185 | $61,462 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is 3,050, the Pell rate is 51.4% (heavily working-class), and the La Verne suburban LA location provides solid metro labor market access. Strongest fit: Business, Accounting, or Computer Science majors who can leverage the LA labor market. Weak fit: students drawn to humanities, biology, or psychology - those programs at La Verne produce D or F grades, with bachelor's-level earnings simply too weak for the cost.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of La Verne is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $20,161 a year after aid ($80,644 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $65,464 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 62.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $23,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of La Verne: Common Questions
Is University of La Verne worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of La Verne is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 70/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,161 a year after aid ($80,644 over four years) against $65,464 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of La Verne cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $20,161 a year, or roughly $80,644 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of La Verne graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $65,464 ten years after enrolling, roughly $23,664 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of La Verne?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.2 years for University of La Verne. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of La Verne graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,500, against average earnings of $45,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of La Verne?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.1%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.