American River College
- Graduation Rate
- 35% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,162 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $7,999 B+
- 53% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 25,621
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 30.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.6 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $30.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $948,324.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 35% — 40% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $30.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About American River College
American River College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 25,621
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Construction Trades, Social Sciences, Business & Marketing
Why students choose American River College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $7,999 a year after grants and scholarships — 53% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,162 ten years after enrolling — 2% below the typical college, against $9,625 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.94 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
American River College serves over 25,600 students, making it one of the largest community colleges in California. With a net price of just $7,999, it offers an affordable pathway to higher education. Students can explore a variety of programs, including Humanities, Construction Trades, and Health Professions.
Data from Opportunity Insights shows that American River College students see an average 10-year earnings of $40,162 after graduation. The college has a graduation rate of 35%, reflecting the challenges many students face in completing their degrees. While the Pell Grant rate is 21%, indicating a significant portion of students come from low-income backgrounds, the mobility rate data is not available.
Graduates leave with a median debt of $9,625, making it a manageable investment for many. This college is particularly suited for students looking for practical skills in fields like Business & Marketing or Social Sciences. Those who thrive here are often motivated to advance their careers without incurring substantial debt.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective American River College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into American River College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sacramento, California, American River College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 35%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,450
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 27:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.74
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend American River College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at American River College is $12,616, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,999. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,599 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,625 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,288
- Out-of-State
- $12,616
- Avg Net Price
- $7,999
- Median Debt
- $9,625
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 3%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,599
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,219
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,538
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,845
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at American River College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is American River College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of American River College report median earnings of $40,162, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $34,072
- 8 Years
- $36,795
- 10 Years
- $40,162
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (203)
- 14%
- 100% (203)
- 14%
- 100% (203)
- 14%
- 100% (203)
- 14%
How American Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is American River College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, American River College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,999/year ($31,996 total). Graduates earn $40,162 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $980,320 in total earnings — a net gain of $948,324 (30.6× your investment). The median debt is $9,625, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $31,996
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $980,320
- Net Return
- $948,324
- ROI Multiple
- 30.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,999
- Median Debt
- $9,625
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields American River College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 17% $29,935 early-career
- Construction Trades 16%
- Social Sciences 10% $23,930 early-career
- Business & Marketing 8% $47,206 early-career
- Health Professions 6% $110,065 early-career
- Psychology 4% $21,762 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Precision Production 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for American River College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into American River College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sacramento, California, American River College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend American River College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at American River College is $12,616, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $7,999. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,599 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,625 in federal student loans.
Is American River College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of American River College report median earnings of $40,162, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is American River College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at American River College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.94, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to American River College.
- Riverside City CollegeRiverside, CA · Close peer34% grad $41,091 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA · Close peer42% grad $46,283 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · same state
- Sacramento City CollegeSacramento, CA · Close peer32% grad $42,214 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, CA · Close peer34% grad $40,060 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance, CA · Close peer39% grad $41,589 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Mt San Jacinto Community College DistrictSan Jacinto, CA · Close peer36% grad $38,319 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is American River College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at American River College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.94, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.09). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note