College of Marin
- Graduation Rate
- 38% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,654 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,351 B-
- 28% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,042
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $21.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,012,055.
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 38% — 34% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why College of Marin Matters
College of Marin is a public community college in Kentfield, 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
- 4,042
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Social Sciences
Why students choose College of Marin
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 $12,351 a year after grants and scholarships — 28% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,654 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $10,062 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 38% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.17 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Approximately 4,042 students are enrolled at the College of Marin, a public institution located in Kentfield, California. The school emphasizes a broad range of programs, with strong offerings in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Psychology.
Outcomes data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights is not directly available, but the college’s graduation rate stands at 38%. This figure suggests that while many students begin their academic journey here, a significant number do not complete their degrees. However, for those who do graduate, the average earnings ten years after enrollment reach $42,654, indicating potential for upward mobility in the job market.
The net price for attending the College of Marin is $12,351, with a median debt of $10,062 for graduates. This financial landscape can appeal to students looking for a more affordable pathway to higher education. With a Pell Grant rate of 17%, the college supports some low-income students but may have limited resources for others. Students who thrive here often have a clear focus on practical fields and are committed to navigating their educational journey effectively.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective College of Marin 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 Marin? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College of Marin, located in Kentfield, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 39%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $15,461
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
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 Marin? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of Marin is $9,334, 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 $12,351. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,665 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,062 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,558
- Out-of-State
- $9,334
- Avg Net Price
- $12,351
- Median Debt
- $10,062
- Pell Grant Rate
- 17%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,665
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,739
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,045
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,686
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is College of Marin Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of Marin report median earnings of $42,654, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,698
- 8 Years
- $40,037
- 10 Years
- $42,654
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (47)
- 16%
- 100% (47)
- 16%
- 100% (47)
- 16%
- 100% (47)
- 16%
How College 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 College of Marin Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, College of Marin delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,351/year ($49,404 total). Graduates earn $42,654 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,061,459 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,012,055 (21.5× your investment). The median debt is $10,062, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 38% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $49,404
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,061,459
- Net Return
- $1,012,055
- ROI Multiple
- 21.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,351
- Median Debt
- $10,062
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 38%
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 College of Marin Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of Marin 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 1.72%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.7% 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 14.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $82,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.72%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $82,000
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,523,200
- Federal Grants
- $671,702
- Investment Income
- $-1,266,875
Top Programs
The fields College of Marin awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Health Professions 17%
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Humanities 14%
- Social Sciences 9%
- Psychology 6%
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 4%
- Legal Studies 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for College of Marin'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 College of Marin? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College of Marin, located in Kentfield, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 38%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of Marin? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College of Marin is $9,334, 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 $12,351. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,665 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,062 in federal student loans.
Is College of Marin Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College of Marin report median earnings of $42,654, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does College of Marin Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College of Marin 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 1.72%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.7% 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 14.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $82,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is College of Marin? 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 Marin. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to College of Marin.
- Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester CampusSewell, NJ · Close peer36% grad $41,751 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- College of AlamedaAlameda, CA · Close peer34% grad $42,563 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Berkeley City CollegeBerkeley, CA · Close peer39% grad $41,217 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Monterey Peninsula CollegeMonterey, CA · Close peer35% grad $42,176 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Dutchess Community CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · Close peer29% grad $43,929 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Napa Valley CollegeNapa, CA · Close peer37% grad $49,517 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is College of Marin? 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 Marin. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note