West Coast University-Orange County
Anaheim, California · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
West Coast University-Orange County scores 83 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 4.0-year payback period and $71,900 average 6-year earnings. This is a for-profit private institution with a narrow program focus: almost entirely nursing and dental hygiene. Registered Nursing dominates with 973 graduates per year, $95,859 year-one earnings, $111,455 four-year earnings, and a 0.398 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B). Dental Support Services adds 70 graduates at $73,751 year-one. The $32,879 net price and $32,946 median debt are both high, but the Southern California nursing wage market absorbs this cost structure rapidly. The 60% completion rate is a meaningful risk: 40% of students who enroll do not complete. The repayment rate of 79.4% suggests graduates who do finish manage their debt, though debt is high.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 4 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
West Coast University-Orange County
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $22,506/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,506/yr |
| Average net price | $32,879/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $131,516 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $102,672 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $71,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $32,946 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $349 |
| Estimated payback period | 4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,192 |
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: $22,506/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $32,879/year, or roughly $131,516 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 $29,867/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,887/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $32,946, which works out to about $349 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($71,900) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is 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 | $29,867 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $34,887 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | $34,887 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from the 0-30000 bracket pay $29,867 net per year - $119,468 over four years. Against nursing earnings of $95,859 year-one, the recovery period from a $119,468 investment is approximately 15 months of employment. For nursing completers, this is financially viable. For students in the 40% who do not complete, $29,867 per year in debt exposure without the nursing salary to service it is a serious financial risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $34,887 per year, close to the sticker rate.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $110,000+ bracket also pays $34,887 per year, indicating minimal aid differentiation at the top. The WCU premium may reflect scheduling, cohort size, or accelerated program formats, but families should explicitly evaluate what they are paying for beyond the credential itself.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at West Coast University-Orange County 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 is WCU-OC's near-exclusive program: 973 graduates, $95,859 year-one earnings, $111,455 at year four. Median debt $38,145, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.398 (ROI grade B). The B-grade reflects debt that is higher than public nursing programs. Year-one earnings of $95,859 are competitive with LA-area nursing wages and make the investment recoverable in under eighteen months of employment. Students choosing WCU over public nursing programs are paying a premium for access and scheduling flexibility.
Dental Support Services
Dental Support Services (70 graduates) earns $73,751 year-one and $85,797 four-year with $36,134 median debt and a 0.490 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+). Dental hygiene in Southern California commands strong wages - $73,751 year-one is competitive nationally.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How West Coast University-Orange County’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2010-2024).
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 | 3,192 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,170 |
No admission rate or test score data is available for WCU Orange County. Healthcare professional programs typically screen through prerequisite science coursework performance rather than traditional admissions criteria. Students should inquire about program-specific completion rates for the nursing track specifically, as the institutional 60% figure may mask variation across programs and cohorts.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast University-Orange County (this school) | 83 | $32,879 | $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
WCU Orange County serves 3,192 undergraduates in Anaheim, California, focused almost entirely on nursing and healthcare. The Pell rate of 41.1% reflects significant lower- and middle-income enrollment. No admission rate or test score data is available, consistent with the school's healthcare-program orientation. Students who complete the nursing program enter a high-paying nursing labor market. The critical decision point is the $32,879 net price against the 60% completion rate - students who do not finish carry substantial debt without the nursing wage to service it.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, West Coast University-Orange County pays off. You'd pay about $32,879 a year after aid ($131,516 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $102,672 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $32,946 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $71,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, 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.
West Coast University-Orange County: Common Questions
Is West Coast University-Orange County worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students West Coast University-Orange County pays off. It scores 83/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $32,879 a year after aid ($131,516 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $102,672 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4 years to earn back.
How much does West Coast University-Orange County 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 $32,879 a year, or roughly $131,516 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 West Coast University-Orange County 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-Orange County?
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 4 years for West Coast University-Orange County. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do West Coast University-Orange County graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $32,946, against average earnings of $71,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. 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 West Coast University-Orange County?
The six-year graduation rate is 60.0%. 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.