West Coast University-Los Angeles
North Hollywood, California · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 69/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
West Coast University-Los Angeles scores 69 (Fair Value) - a mixed result anchored by a 5.2-year payback period and $71,900 median 6-year earnings, offset by a severe 31.3% completion rate and for-profit cost structure. Net price of $53,020 is high; median debt of $32,946 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.458. Registered Nursing dominates with 981 graduates, $95,859 year-one earnings, and ROI grade B. Students who complete the nursing program come out reasonably well; the institutional-level completion rate indicates most enrolled students do not.
The data raises concerns about West Coast University-Los Angeles
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate31.3% - Well below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022). Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
West Coast University-Los Angeles
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,854/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,854/yr |
| Average net price | $53,020/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $212,080 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $102,672 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $71,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $32,946 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $349 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 31.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,673 |
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: $36,854/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $53,020/year, or roughly $212,080 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 $49,093/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $55,938/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $32,946 in federal loans, which works out to about $349 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $102,672 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.46, comfortably manageable.
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 | $49,093 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $50,493 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $54,788 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | $55,938 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The $0-30,000 income bracket pays $49,093 per year at West Coast University-LA - a very high burden for low-income students. The net price is near the full published tuition at $36,854, meaning aid is providing limited offset. At $49k per year, a low-income student who does not complete the nursing program faces a catastrophic debt outcome.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $50,493 and the $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $54,788 - prices that move in the wrong direction as income rises, which is typical of schools where aid is minimal across the board. Middle-income students should compare this cost against CSU nursing programs and community college-to-RN pathways in California.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $55,938 per year - about $224,000 over four years. Against $71,900 median 6-year earnings, full-pay is a serious commitment. Nursing graduates who finish will close the gap quickly given LA market wages, but the completion rate means this is a high-variance bet at full price.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at West Coast University-Los Angeles with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $111,455 | B |
| Dental Support Services | $85,797 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing drives nearly everything at West Coast University-LA: 981 graduates (the school's dominant program), $95,859 median year-one earnings, $111,455 at year four, with debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.398 (ROI grade B). LA metro nurses earn premium wages, and the year-one figure of nearly $96k reflects immediate RN licensure value in one of the country's most expensive healthcare markets. Median debt of $38,145 is elevated - higher than public nursing programs - which is where the for-profit cost structure shows up. For students who complete, the B-grade ROI is defensible.
Dental Support Services
Dental Support Services earns $73,751 year one and $85,797 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.490 (ROI grade C+). No graduate count is available in Scorecard data. The C+ grade reflects a higher debt load relative to earnings in dental hygiene and dental assisting fields. This is a smaller program track at WCU that sits in the same for-profit cost structure as nursing without the same earnings premium.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How West Coast University-Los Angeles’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
| Enrollment | 2,673 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,635 |
No admission rate or test data is reported for this institution. West Coast University operates as an open-enrollment for-profit school. The relevant qualification filter is whether the applicant can pass the NCLEX licensing exam after completing the program - prospective students should ask about NCLEX pass rates, which are a better quality signal than selectivity for a nursing school.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
West Coast University-LA's peers include Academy of Art University, University of Silicon Valley, Chamberlain University-Texas, Chamberlain University-Georgia, and Galen College of Nursing-Louisville. Chamberlain University is the most direct comparable as a large for-profit nursing school; Galen College is a nursing-only institution at lower cost. West Coast University's ROI score of 69 is competitive within this for-profit healthcare peer group, driven by LA market wage premiums. The completion rate (31.3%) is the weakest metric in the group.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast University-Los Angeles (this school) | 69 | $53,020 | $102,672 |
| Chamberlain University-Georgia | 77 | $33,188 | $92,405 |
| Chamberlain University-Texas | 73 | $32,209 | $92,405 |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | 64 | $18,540 | $61,480 |
| University of Silicon Valley | 23 | $27,815 | $51,017 |
| Academy of Art University | 10 | $40,613 | $39,008 |
Who Thrives Here
West Coast University-Los Angeles is a for-profit health sciences school whose program volume is almost entirely nursing. It serves a predominantly working adult population in the LA metro (44.8% Pell grant rate) who need an accelerated or flexible nursing credential. The completion rate of 31.3% is the central risk factor. Students who enroll with a clear nursing career path and complete the program face a workable ROI; those who do not complete leave with significant debt ($32,946 median) and no nursing license.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
West Coast University-Los Angeles is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $53,020 a year after aid ($212,080 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $102,672 a decade out, the cost takes about 5.2 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 31.3% graduation rate.
Median debt of $32,946 against $102,672 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
West Coast University-Los Angeles: Common Questions
Is West Coast University-Los Angeles worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether West Coast University-Los Angeles is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 69/100 on our ROI scale. At $53,020 a year after aid ($212,080 over four years) against $102,672 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 5.2 years to earn back - roughly average.
How much does West Coast University-Los Angeles cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $53,020 a year, or roughly $212,080 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do West Coast University-Los Angeles graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $102,672 ten years after enrolling, roughly $60,872 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 West Coast University-Los Angeles?
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 5.2 years for West Coast University-Los Angeles. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do West Coast University-Los Angeles graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $32,946, against $102,672 in typical earnings a decade out. That is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at West Coast University-Los Angeles?
The six-year graduation rate is 31.3%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. 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.