Laney College
- Graduation Rate
- 34% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,282 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $17,110 C
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 6,842
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $13.8 over 20 years. Net gain: $878,024.
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 34% — 41% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Laney College
Laney 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
- 6,842
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Culinary & Personal Services, Business & Marketing, Humanities
Why students choose Laney 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 $17,110 a year after grants and scholarships — 0% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,282 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 0.82 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
More than 6,800 students call Laney College home, taking advantage of its diverse programs in Business, Social Sciences, and Culinary Arts. The college has a graduation rate of 34%, which indicates that while many students start their journey here, a significant portion do not complete their degrees within the expected timeframe.
Data from Opportunity Insights reveals the economic mobility of students who attend Laney College. While specific mobility rates are unavailable, the college's focus on practical fields suggests that students can find pathways to improve their financial situations through targeted programs. Graduates earn an average of $37,282 after ten years, showing that a Laney education can lead to stable employment.
The net price for attending Laney College is $17,110, making it a cost-effective option for students seeking higher education. With a Pell Grant rate of 16%, it serves a population that often needs financial assistance. Students who thrive here tend to be those looking for accessible education that can lead to immediate job opportunities in growing fields.
Can I Get In?
How selective Laney 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 Laney College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Laney College, located in Oakland, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
- Retention Rate
- 54%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 48%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,070
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 26:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.81
- First-Gen Students
- 61%
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 Laney College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Laney College 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 $17,110. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,549 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,258
- Out-of-State
- $9,898
- Avg Net Price
- $17,110
- Pell Grant Rate
- 16%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,549
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,474
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,213
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Laney College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Laney College report median earnings of $37,282, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,777
- 8 Years
- $32,661
- 10 Years
- $37,282
- Earning > $25K
- 39%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (47)
- 15%
- 100% (47)
- 15%
- 100% (47)
- 15%
- 100% (47)
- 15%
How Laney 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 Laney College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Laney College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,110/year ($68,440 total). Graduates earn $37,282 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $946,464 in total earnings — a net gain of $878,024 (13.8× 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)
- $68,440
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $946,464
- Net Return
- $878,024
- ROI Multiple
- 13.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,110
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Laney College 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.
- Social Sciences 15%
- Culinary & Personal Services 14%
- Business & Marketing 12%
- Humanities 12%
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- Precision Production 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5%
- Mathematics & Statistics 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Laney 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 Laney College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Laney College, located in Oakland, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Laney College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Laney College 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 $17,110. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,549 after need-based grants.
Is Laney College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Laney College report median earnings of $37,282, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Laney College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Laney College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.12). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Laney College.
- Los Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington, CA · Close peer36% grad $41,133 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- San Jose City CollegeSan Jose, CA · Close peer33% grad $46,215 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Coastline Community CollegeFountain Valley, CA · Close peer30% grad $44,483 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA · Close peer38% grad $44,114 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Butler Community CollegeEl Dorado, KS · Close peer31% grad $41,206 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown, NC · Close peer31% grad $33,934 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Laney College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Laney College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.12). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note