Del Mar College
- Graduation Rate
- 12% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,656 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $3,399 A
- 80% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 9,501
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 70.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $70.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $70.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $941,010.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 12% — 79% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 3.67% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $70.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Del Mar College Matters
Del Mar College is a public community college in Corpus Christi, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
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
- 9,501
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Precision Production, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Del Mar 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 $3,399 a year after grants and scholarships — 80% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,656 ten years after enrolling — 5% below the typical college, against $5,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 5% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.10 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Del Mar College serves a diverse group of students, particularly those looking to jumpstart their careers in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. With over 9,500 students enrolled, it’s a place where practical skills and hands-on learning come to the forefront. Those who thrive here are often motivated by a clear path to employment in their chosen industry.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $38,656 ten years into their careers. While the graduation rate is on the lower side at 12%, many students find a way to move into the workforce and start earning a living. The affordability of Del Mar College is a significant draw; the net price after aid is just $3,399, making it accessible for a broad range of families.
Looking at the financial side, the median debt for students is relatively low at $5,500, which helps ease the burden after graduation. Students who tend to do well here are often those who prioritize practical training and are eager to enter the job market quickly. With a solid support system and a focus on career readiness, many find a suitable path to success.
Can I Get In?
How selective Del Mar 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 Del Mar College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Corpus Christi, Texas, Del Mar College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 12%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,068
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.45
- First-Gen Students
- 50%
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 Del Mar College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Del Mar College is $6,050, 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 $3,399. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,541 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $3,440
- Out-of-State
- $6,050
- Avg Net Price
- $3,399
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $2,541
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,500
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,823
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,845
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 Del Mar 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 Del Mar College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Del Mar College report median earnings of $38,656, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,526
- 8 Years
- $34,559
- 10 Years
- $38,656
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.14x
- Earning > $25K
- 50%
Earnings Trajectory
How Del 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 Del Mar College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Del Mar College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,399/year ($13,596 total). Graduates earn $38,656 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $954,606 in total earnings — a net gain of $941,010 (70.2× your investment). The median debt is $5,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 12% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $13,596
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $954,606
- Net Return
- $941,010
- ROI Multiple
- 70.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,399
- Median Debt
- $5,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 12%
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 Del Mar College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Del Mar 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 3.67%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 22.4% 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 16.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.67%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 16.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 22.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $71,873
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $1,307,263
Top Programs
The fields Del Mar 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.
- Health Professions 24% $71,249 early-career
- Precision Production 15%
- Business & Marketing 10%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8%
- Criminal Justice 7%
- Humanities 6%
- Culinary & Personal Services 3%
- Construction Trades 2%
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 Del Mar 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 Del Mar College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Corpus Christi, Texas, Del Mar College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 12%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Del Mar College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Del Mar College is $6,050, 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 $3,399. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,541 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $5,500 in federal student loans.
Is Del Mar College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Del Mar College report median earnings of $38,656, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Del Mar College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Del Mar 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 3.67%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 22.4% 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 16.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Del Mar 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 Del Mar College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Del Mar College.
- Palo Alto CollegeSan Antonio, TX · Close peer33% grad $37,448 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster, CA · Close peer33% grad $36,526 earnWhy: similar earnings
- Pikes Peak State CollegeColorado Springs, CO · Close peer22% grad $40,796 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- St Philip's CollegeSan Antonio, TX · Close peer28% grad $38,224 earnWhy: similar earnings · same state
- Shasta CollegeRedding, CA · Close peer26% grad $39,269 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Schoolcraft Community College DistrictLivonia, MI · Close peer17% grad $42,722 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Del Mar 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 Del Mar College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note