Cerritos College
#7 Most Affordable Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 30% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,156 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $2,424 A+
- 86% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 18,870
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 114.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $114.8 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Most Affordable Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $114.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,103,673.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 30% — 48% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $114.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Cerritos College Matters
Cerritos College is a public college in Norwalk, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 18,870
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Precision Production, Health Professions
Why students choose Cerritos 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 $2,424 a year after grants and scholarships — 86% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,156 ten years after enrolling — 1% above the typical college, against $8,447 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.06 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Cerritos College enrolls nearly 19,000 students, making it a significant community college in California. With a net price of just $2,424, it stands out as an affordable option for students seeking higher education without the burden of overwhelming debt.
According to Opportunity Insights data, Cerritos College plays a crucial role in promoting upward mobility. While specific mobility rates aren't available, the college's diverse programs in fields like Business, Health Professions, and Mechanic & Repair Tech cater to a variety of career paths. Graduates earn an average of $41,156 a decade after enrollment, indicating a solid return on investment for students.
Cerritos College attracts students who thrive in an accessible and supportive environment. With a graduation rate of 30%, the college emphasizes practical skills and real-world applications. Students often benefit from financial aid, with 36% receiving Pell Grants. The combination of low costs and targeted programs makes Cerritos College a practical choice for those looking to improve their economic prospects.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Cerritos 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 Cerritos College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Norwalk, California, Cerritos College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 22%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,741
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 26:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.51
- First-Gen Students
- 60%
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 Cerritos College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cerritos College is $12,004, 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 $2,424. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,538 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,447 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,364
- Out-of-State
- $12,004
- Avg Net Price
- $2,424
- Median Debt
- $8,447
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 3%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,538
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,784
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $3,774
- Family Income $110K+
- $7,901
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 Cerritos 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 Cerritos College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cerritos College report median earnings of $41,156, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,581
- 8 Years
- $36,664
- 10 Years
- $41,156
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 46%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (276)
- 15%
- 100% (276)
- 15%
- 100% (276)
- 15%
- 100% (276)
- 15%
How Cerritos 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 Cerritos College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Cerritos College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,424/year ($9,696 total). Graduates earn $41,156 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,113,369 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,103,673 (114.8× your investment). The median debt is $8,447, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $9,696
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,113,369
- Net Return
- $1,103,673
- ROI Multiple
- 114.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,424
- Median Debt
- $8,447
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Cerritos 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 36%
- Business & Marketing 28% $39,544 early-career
- Precision Production 4%
- Health Professions 3% $84,779 early-career
- Social Sciences 3%
- Culinary & Personal Services 3% $33,550 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
- Psychology 2% $17,746 early-career
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 Cerritos 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cerritos College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Norwalk, California, Cerritos College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cerritos College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cerritos College is $12,004, 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 $2,424. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,538 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,447 in federal student loans.
Is Cerritos College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cerritos College report median earnings of $41,156, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Cerritos College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Cerritos College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Cerritos College.
- Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, CA · Close peer36% grad $42,300 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Pima Community CollegeTucson, AZ · Close peer25% grad $39,810 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC · Close peer32% grad $41,769 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, CA · Close peer28% grad $38,870 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM · Close peer30% grad $36,869 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Close peer40% grad $45,805 earnWhy: similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Cerritos College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Cerritos College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note