Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Public Fountain Valley, CA · Urban · Far West · 87% data
A Diversity C+ Earnings C Value
Graduation Rate
30% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$44,483 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$16,341 C
Close to the national average
Enrollment
7,393
Earnings +9% vs avg
Graduation -47% vs avg
Net Price +-5% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.2 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Online Computer Science Programs in California.

14.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $14.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $865,322.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 30% — 47% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $14.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Coastline Community College

Coastline 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
7,393
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose Coastline Community College

Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 48% overall
C+
Earnings
$44,483 median
C
Value
2.7× net price
C
Affordability
$16,341/yr net
F
Graduation
30% graduate
A
Diversity
0.77 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Thirty percent of students graduate from Coastline Community College. This statistic highlights a significant hurdle for many who enroll. With 7,393 students, the college offers a chance for those seeking flexibility in their education, but completion remains a challenge.

The earnings data shows that graduates earn around $44,483 within ten years of leaving. This figure can indicate potential pathways for upward mobility, although detailed mobility metrics aren't available. The low Pell Grant rate of 9% suggests that most students may not rely heavily on federal aid, which could affect access and completion.

Cost is a crucial factor for students considering Coastline. The net price stands at $16,341, combined with a median debt of $8,250. Graduates may find themselves in a better position financially compared to their starting point, especially in fields like Business & Marketing and Computer Science & IT, where many students thrive. The college serves those who need a stepping stone into higher education or a new career path.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Coastline Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Coastline Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Fountain Valley, California, Coastline Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.

Retention Rate
43%
Full-Time Faculty
21%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$14,027
Student–Faculty Ratio
30:1
Diversity Index
0.77
First-Gen Students
55%

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 Coastline Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Coastline Community College is $11,612, 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 $16,341. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,454 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,250 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$1,364
Out-of-State
$11,612
Avg Net Price
$16,341
Median Debt
$8,250
Pell Grant Rate
9%
Federal Loan Rate
1%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$16,454
Family Income $30K–$48K
$19,464
Family Income $48K–$75K
$15,207

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 Coastline Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Coastline Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Coastline Community College report median earnings of $44,483, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$42,638
8 Years
$43,914
10 Years
$44,483
Debt-to-Earnings
0.19x
Earning > $25K
51%

Earnings Trajectory

$42,638 6yr $43,914 8yr $44,483 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (15)
10%
100% (15)
10%
100% (15)
10%
100% (15)
10%

How Coastline Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation30%Earnings 10yr$44KNet Price$16KRetention43%Median Debt$8KPell Grant Rate9%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$16K$0-30K$19K$30-48K$15K$48-75K

College ROI Calculator

Is Coastline Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Coastline Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,341/year ($65,364 total). Graduates earn $44,483 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $930,686 in total earnings — a net gain of $865,322 (14.2× your investment). The median debt is $8,250, 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)
$65,364
Projected 20yr Earnings
$930,686
Net Return
$865,322
ROI Multiple
14.2×
Cost Per Year
$16,341
Median Debt
$8,250
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
30%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$3,077,684
Federal Grants
$8,959,872
Investment Income
$-2,787,936

Top Programs

The fields Coastline 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Coastline Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Fountain Valley, California, Coastline Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Coastline Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Coastline Community College is $11,612, 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 $16,341. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,454 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,250 in federal student loans.

Is Coastline Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Coastline Community College report median earnings of $44,483, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Coastline Community College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys