Modesto Junior College
- Graduation Rate
- 28% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,368 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $2,818 A+
- 84% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 15,109
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 97.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $97.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $97.1 over 20 years. Net gain: $1,083,168.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 28% — 51% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $97.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Modesto Junior College Matters
Modesto Junior College is a public community college in Modesto, 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
- 15,109
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Psychology
Why students choose Modesto Junior 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 $2,818 a year after grants and scholarships — 84% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,368 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.20 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
More than 15,000 students enroll at Modesto Junior College each year, making it a significant player in community education. With an accessible net price of $2,818, this school provides a valuable option for students seeking affordable higher education.
Data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights indicates that while graduation rates stand at 28%, the potential for upward mobility remains a critical factor for many students. Graduates earn an average of $42,368 within ten years of completing their studies, suggesting that a degree from this institution can lead to financial stability.
Students who thrive here often pursue programs in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Visual & Performing Arts. With a Pell Grant rate of 32%, many students benefit from federal assistance, making it easier to navigate the costs associated with college.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Modesto Junior 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 Modesto Junior College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Modesto Junior College, located in Modesto, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 47%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,951
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 60%
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 Modesto Junior College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Modesto Junior College is $9,264, 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 $2,818. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,658 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,282
- Out-of-State
- $9,264
- Avg Net Price
- $2,818
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,658
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,623
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $4,809
- Family Income $110K+
- $8,681
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 Modesto Junior 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 Modesto Junior College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Modesto Junior College report median earnings of $42,368, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $34,568
- 8 Years
- $38,275
- 10 Years
- $42,368
- Earning > $25K
- 41%
Earnings Trajectory
How Modesto 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 Modesto Junior College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Modesto Junior College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,818/year ($11,272 total). Graduates earn $42,368 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,094,440 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,083,168 (97.1× your investment).. With a 28% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $11,272
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,094,440
- Net Return
- $1,083,168
- ROI Multiple
- 97.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,818
- Graduation Rate
- 28%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,414,175
- Federal Grants
- $4,998,065
- Investment Income
- $10,083
Top Programs
The fields Modesto Junior 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 15% $102,497 early-career
- Business & Marketing 11%
- Humanities 11%
- Psychology 6%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 4%
- Computer Science & IT 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
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 Modesto Junior 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
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Modesto Junior College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Modesto Junior College, located in Modesto, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Modesto Junior College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Modesto Junior College is $9,264, 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 $2,818. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,658 after need-based grants.
Is Modesto Junior College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Modesto Junior College report median earnings of $42,368, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Modesto Junior 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 Modesto Junior College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.20, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Modesto Junior College.
- Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica, CA · Close peer36% grad $42,193 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA · Close peer31% grad $43,552 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northwest Vista CollegeSan Antonio, TX · Close peer32% grad $42,490 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL · Close peer35% grad $42,244 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cypress CollegeCypress, CA · Close peer36% grad $43,533 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- San Antonio CollegeSan Antonio, TX · Close peer24% grad $39,711 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Modesto Junior 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 Modesto Junior College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.20, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note