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Las Positas College

Public Livermore, CA · Urban · Far West · 80% data
A Value A Affordability A Diversity
Graduation Rate
51% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$51,088 B
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$5,377 A
69% less than the typical college
Enrollment
7,299
Earnings +25% vs avg
Graduation -11% vs avg
Net Price +-69% vs avg
Mobility Top 88%

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 60.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $60.2 over 20 years.

60.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $60.2 over 20 years. Net gain: $1,272,969.

What The Data Says

  1. A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Earnings 25% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $60.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Las Positas College Matters

Las Positas College is a public community college in Livermore, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

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
7,299
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Psychology

Why students choose Las Positas College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 34% overall
B
Earnings
$51,088 median
A
Value
9.5× net price
A
Affordability
$5,377/yr net
C-
Graduation
51% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.8% climb Q1→Q5
A
Diversity
0.75 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Las Positas College in Livermore, California, is an appealing choice for students looking to engage in fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Criminal Justice. With an enrollment of about 7,300, this college is perfect for those seeking a community-oriented environment where they can develop their skills and interests. The focus here is on practical learning and real-world applications, making it a great fit for students who want to prepare for careers or further education.

After graduation, students see an average earning of $51,088 within ten years. This figure offers a solid foundation for understanding the return on investment of attending Las Positas. While the graduation rate stands at 51%, it’s essential to consider that many students take advantage of the community college setting to transfer to larger institutions or enter the workforce directly, which can lead to upward mobility over time. The affordability of a net price of $5,377 ensures that students can pursue their education without overwhelming financial burdens.

Looking at the financial aspects, many students thrive here due to the manageable costs and supportive environment. With a Pell Grant rate of 14%, the college makes education accessible for those who need it most. While we don't have specific debt figures, the emphasis on affordability and practical programs helps students graduate with a reasonable financial outlook. Those who tend to flourish at Las Positas are often those who appreciate a hands-on approach to learning and are motivated to leverage their education into meaningful careers.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Las Positas College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Las Positas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Las Positas College, located in Livermore, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.

Retention Rate
81%
Full-Time Faculty
36%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$13,256
Student–Faculty Ratio
20:1
Diversity Index
0.75
First-Gen Students
48%

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 Las Positas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Las Positas College is $9,808, 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 $5,377. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,020 after need-based grants.

In-State Tuition
$1,168
Out-of-State
$9,808
Avg Net Price
$5,377
Pell Grant Rate
14%
Federal Loan Rate
0%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$3,020
Family Income $30K–$48K
$4,332
Family Income $48K–$75K
$6,674
Family Income $110K+
$4,692

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 Las Positas College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Las Positas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Las Positas College earn a median of $51,088, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$42,229
8 Years
$48,399
10 Years
$51,088
Earning > $25K
54%

Earnings Trajectory

$42,229 6yr $48,399 8yr $51,088 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (194)
26%
100% (194)
26%
100% (194)
26%
100% (194)
26%

How Las Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation51%Earnings 10yr$51KNet Price$5KRetention81%Pell Grant Rate14%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$3K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$7K$48-75K$5K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%4.9%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%16.5%MOBILITY0.80%

College ROI Calculator

Is Las Positas College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Las Positas College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,377/year ($21,508 total). Graduates earn $51,088 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,294,477 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,272,969 (60.2× your investment).. With a 51% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$21,508
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,294,477
Net Return
$1,272,969
ROI Multiple
60.2×
Cost Per Year
$5,377
Graduation Rate
51%

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 Las Positas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Las Positas College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.80%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.80%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
16.5%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
4.9%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$148,772
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Las Positas College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Las Positas College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), 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.

Economic Connectedness
1.73
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.00
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
3.7%
Support Ratio
0.96
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Top Programs

The fields Las Positas 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Las Positas College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Las Positas College, located in Livermore, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 51%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Las Positas College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Las Positas College is $9,808, 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 $5,377. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,020 after need-based grants.

Is Las Positas College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Las Positas College earn a median of $51,088, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Las Positas College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Las Positas College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.80%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $109,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Las Positas College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Las Positas College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), 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.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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