College of Alameda
#4 Best Online Computer Science Programs in California- Graduation Rate
- 34% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,563 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,496 B+
- 50% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,487
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 32.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $32.6 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Online Computer Science Programs in California.
Every $1 spent returns $32.6 over 20 years. Net gain: $1,074,695.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduation of 34% — 41% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $32.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why College of Alameda Matters
College of Alameda is a public community college in Alameda, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 4,487
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose College of Alameda
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 $8,496 a year after grants and scholarships — 50% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,563 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.19 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 4,500 students call College of Alameda home, making it a vibrant hub for learning in the Bay Area. With a diverse range of programs, students can delve into fields like Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Technology, and Health Professions. The net price of $8,496 makes it an accessible option for many, especially those seeking to start their educational journey without overwhelming debt.
While the graduation rate stands at 34%, the Chetty/Opportunity Insights data provides insight into economic mobility. However, specific mobility metrics and success rates for low-income students are not available. This lack of data presents a challenge for students assessing long-term outcomes. Understanding how graduates fare in the job market is essential for prospective students.
Graduates of College of Alameda earn an average of $42,563 within ten years of completing their studies. This figure underscores the potential return on investment for students. The lower Pell Grant rate of 10% suggests that financial aid resources may be limited for some students. Those who thrive here typically have a clear career path and are willing to engage deeply in their studies.
Rankings
- #4 Best Online Computer Science Programs in California
- #6 Best Online Business Programs in California
- #6 Best Online Nursing Programs in California
- #14 Best Online Mathematics Programs
- #15 Best Online Physical Sciences Programs
- #15 Best Online Environmental Science Programs
- #39 Best Online Social Work Programs
- #41 Best Online Communications Programs
Can I Get In?
How selective College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College of Alameda, located in Alameda, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
- Retention Rate
- 62%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 55%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,571
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 30:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.80
- First-Gen Students
- 56%
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 College of Alameda? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of Alameda is $9,898, 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 $8,496. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,947 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,258
- Out-of-State
- $9,898
- Avg Net Price
- $8,496
- Pell Grant Rate
- 10%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,947
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,829
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,225
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 College of Alameda — 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 College of Alameda Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of Alameda report median earnings of $42,563, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $34,535
- 8 Years
- $40,809
- 10 Years
- $42,563
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 98%
- Earning > $25K
- 44%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (48)
- 18%
- 100% (48)
- 18%
- 100% (48)
- 18%
- 100% (48)
- 18%
How College 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 College of Alameda Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, College of Alameda delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,496/year ($33,984 total). Graduates earn $42,563 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,108,679 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,074,695 (32.6× your investment).. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $33,984
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,108,679
- Net Return
- $1,074,695
- ROI Multiple
- 32.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,496
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields College of Alameda 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 48%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 19%
- Business & Marketing 5%
- Psychology 5%
- Health Professions 5%
- Social Sciences 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Mathematics & Statistics 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for College of Alameda'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
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into College of Alameda? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College of Alameda, located in Alameda, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of Alameda? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of Alameda is $9,898, 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 $8,496. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,947 after need-based grants.
Is College of Alameda Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of Alameda report median earnings of $42,563, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is College of Alameda? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of Alameda. Its economic connectedness score is 1.19, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to College of Alameda.
- Berkeley City CollegeBerkeley, CA · Close peer39% grad $41,217 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Onondaga Community CollegeSyracuse, NY · Close peer26% grad $41,190 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeSchnecksville, PA · Close peer29% grad $42,436 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Contra Costa CollegeSan Pablo, CA · Close peer30% grad $40,850 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeChicago, IL · Close peer32% grad $41,625 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Clackamas Community CollegeOregon City, OR · Close peer23% grad $42,886 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is College of Alameda? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of Alameda. Its economic connectedness score is 1.19, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note