Chemeketa Community College
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon- Graduation Rate
- 22% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,968 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,200 B+
- 52% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 6,610
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 29.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon.
Every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $928,424.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 22% — 62% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 83%
- Patents
- 12
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 0
- Downstream influence
About Chemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community 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
- 6,610
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education
Why students choose Chemeketa Community 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 $8,200 a year after grants and scholarships — 52% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,968 ten years after enrolling — 0% above the typical college, against $12,822 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 63% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.95 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Chemeketa Community College serves around 6,610 students, making it a fitting choice for those seeking a close-knit learning environment with a focus on practical skills. Students here can dive into programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, and Education. The emphasis on these fields highlights a commitment to preparing students for the workforce in areas that are both relevant and in demand.
Looking at what happens after graduation, the 10-year earnings average stands at about $40,968. This figure is a solid indication of the potential for financial stability post-graduation. While the graduation rate is 22%, many students are still able to find paths to success through various means, including transferring to four-year institutions or entering the workforce directly. Affordability is also a key factor, as the net price after aid is around $8,200, making it accessible for many.
When it comes to the financial bottom line, graduates leave with a median debt of $12,822. This manageable debt level, combined with the affordability of the programs, helps students thrive without being overwhelmed by student loans. Those who tend to excel here are often motivated individuals looking to build a foundation in their careers, whether that’s through immediate employment or further education.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Chemeketa Community 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 Chemeketa Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Salem, Oregon, Chemeketa Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 42%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,834
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.61
- First-Gen Students
- 49%
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 Chemeketa Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Chemeketa Community College is $14,040, 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 $8,200. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,346 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,822 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,345
- Out-of-State
- $14,040
- Avg Net Price
- $8,200
- Median Debt
- $12,822
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 17%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,346
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,515
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,932
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,167
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 Chemeketa Community 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 Chemeketa Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Chemeketa Community College report median earnings of $40,968, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,771
- 8 Years
- $37,929
- 10 Years
- $40,968
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.31x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (155)
- 12%
- 100% (155)
- 12%
- 100% (155)
- 12%
- 100% (155)
- 12%
How Chemeketa Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Chemeketa Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Chemeketa Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,200/year ($32,800 total). Graduates earn $40,968 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $961,224 in total earnings — a net gain of $928,424 (29.3× your investment). The median debt is $12,822, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 22% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $32,800
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $961,224
- Net Return
- $928,424
- ROI Multiple
- 29.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,200
- Median Debt
- $12,822
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 22%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Chemeketa Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Chemeketa Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.23%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.23%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $89,807
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Chemeketa Community College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 12 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.16%
- Top 83% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 12
- Linked to graduates
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.09%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $6,845,159
- Investment Income
- $-276,004
Top Programs
The fields Chemeketa Community 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 50%
- Health Professions 14% $85,234 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10% $41,658 early-career
- Education 7% $33,980 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3% $36,132 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $38,698 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $32,647 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 2% $31,312 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 Chemeketa Community 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
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Chemeketa Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Salem, Oregon, Chemeketa Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Chemeketa Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Chemeketa Community College is $14,040, 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 $8,200. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,346 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,822 in federal student loans.
Is Chemeketa Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Chemeketa Community College report median earnings of $40,968, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Chemeketa Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Chemeketa Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.23%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Chemeketa Community 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 Chemeketa Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Chemeketa Community College.
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Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Chemeketa Community 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 Chemeketa Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note