Hartnell College
- Graduation Rate
- 35% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,316 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $2,039 A+
- 88% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 9,453
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 140.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $140.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $140.9 over 20 years. Net gain: $1,141,003.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 35% — 39% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $140.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Hartnell College Matters
Hartnell College is a public community college in Salinas, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average 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
- 9,453
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose Hartnell 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 $2,039 a year after grants and scholarships — 88% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,316 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.11 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Hartnell College in Salinas, CA, has a remarkably low net price of just $2,039, making it one of the most affordable options for students looking to further their education. This financial accessibility supports a diverse student body of 9,453. With a graduation rate of 35%, the college is focused on helping students transition into successful careers or further education.
Data from Opportunity Insights shows that students from Hartnell College have the potential to improve their economic standing over time. While specific mobility rates are not available, the college’s emphasis on programs in health professions and business indicates a commitment to fields that typically offer good job prospects and stable wages. Graduates can expect to earn an average of $44,316 within ten years of completing their studies.
Students who thrive at Hartnell College are those ready to engage in a supportive community focused on practical skills and career readiness. The college serves a significant number of Pell Grant recipients, with 32% of students receiving federal financial aid. With its strong programs in humanities, psychology, and social sciences, Hartnell is an ideal choice for individuals seeking a cost-effective pathway to a fulfilling career or further academic pursuits.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Hartnell 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 Hartnell College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Salinas, California, Hartnell College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 36%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,975
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 22:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.42
- First-Gen Students
- 65%
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 Hartnell College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hartnell College is $10,374, 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 $2,039. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $828 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,404
- Out-of-State
- $10,374
- Avg Net Price
- $2,039
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $828
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $465
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $3,124
- Family Income $110K+
- $9,885
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 Hartnell 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 Hartnell College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hartnell College report median earnings of $44,316, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,065
- 8 Years
- $40,002
- 10 Years
- $44,316
- Earning > $25K
- 46%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (175)
- 18%
- 100% (175)
- 18%
- 100% (175)
- 18%
- 100% (175)
- 18%
How Hartnell 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 Hartnell College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Hartnell College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,039/year ($8,156 total). Graduates earn $44,316 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,149,159 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,141,003 (140.9× your investment).. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $8,156
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,149,159
- Net Return
- $1,141,003
- ROI Multiple
- 140.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,039
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $40,622
Top Programs
The fields Hartnell 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 54%
- Health Professions 8%
- Business & Marketing 5%
- Psychology 5%
- Social Sciences 4%
- Criminal Justice 3%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Mathematics & Statistics 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Hartnell 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
- 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
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Hartnell College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Salinas, California, Hartnell College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Hartnell College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Hartnell College is $10,374, 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 $2,039. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $828 after need-based grants.
Is Hartnell College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Hartnell College report median earnings of $44,316, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Hartnell 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 Hartnell College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.11, 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 Hartnell College.
- Middlesex CollegeEdison, NJ · Close peer34% grad $46,861 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, CA · Close peer47% grad $44,956 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price · same state
- San Joaquin Delta CollegeStockton, CA · Close peer33% grad $43,212 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Irvine Valley CollegeIrvine, CA · Close peer57% grad $49,156 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price · same state
- Golden West CollegeHuntington Beach, CA · Close peer47% grad $43,145 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- CUNY Queensborough Community CollegeBayside, NY · Close peer23% grad $44,214 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Hartnell 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 Hartnell College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.11, 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