Napa Valley College
- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,517 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $14,644 C+
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 3,813
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $21.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,219,346.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 21% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 37% — 36% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Napa Valley College Matters
Napa Valley College is a public community college in Napa, 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
- 3,813
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Napa Valley 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 $14,644 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,517 ten years after enrolling — 21% above the typical college, against $10,147 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 41% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.39 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Students at Napa Valley College can expect to earn an average of $49,517 ten years after graduation. This figure highlights the potential return on investment for those who choose to attend. With a student enrollment of 3,813, the college offers a range of programs that cater to diverse interests, particularly in humanities, business, health professions, and psychology.
Data from Opportunity Insights suggests that while graduation rates stand at 37%, the college supports a segment of students who aim to improve their economic mobility. Although specific mobility rates are not available, the college's focus on practical fields like business and health professions may help students enhance their career prospects. The environment favors those who are determined to succeed and willing to leverage local opportunities.
The net price for attending Napa Valley College is $14,644, with a median debt of $10,147 for graduates. This comparatively low debt level can be advantageous for students entering the job market. Graduates often find success in various fields, particularly if they have clear career goals and engage actively with available resources. This college may suit students looking for a supportive community in an accessible location.
Rankings
- #18 Best Online Education Programs in California
- #25 Best Psychology Colleges in California
- #36 Best Online Colleges in California
- #37 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in California
- #38 Best Online Computer Science Programs in California
- #39 Best Nursing Colleges in California
- #39 Best Online Nursing Programs in California
- #40 Best Biology Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Napa, California, Napa Valley College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 38%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,688
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.69
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
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 Napa Valley College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Napa Valley College is $11,908, 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 $14,644. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,795 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,147 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,156
- Out-of-State
- $11,908
- Avg Net Price
- $14,644
- Median Debt
- $10,147
- Pell Grant Rate
- 17%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,795
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,380
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,099
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,165
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 Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Napa Valley College earn a median of $49,517, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,426
- 8 Years
- $43,030
- 10 Years
- $49,517
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.2x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (51)
- 11%
- 100% (51)
- 11%
- 100% (51)
- 11%
- 100% (51)
- 11%
How Napa 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 Napa Valley College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Napa Valley College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,644/year ($58,576 total). Graduates earn $49,517 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,277,922 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,219,346 (21.8× your investment). The median debt is $10,147, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $58,576
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,277,922
- Net Return
- $1,219,346
- ROI Multiple
- 21.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,644
- Median Debt
- $10,147
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
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 Napa Valley College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Napa Valley 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 1.64%, well above the typical college. About 9.9% 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 $75,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.64%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 16.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $101,899
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Top Programs
The fields Napa Valley 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 34%
- Business & Marketing 13%
- Health Professions 12% $82,387 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6%
- Visual & Performing Arts 6%
- Psychology 4%
- Social Sciences 4% $23,279 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $89,637 early-career
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 Napa Valley 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
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Napa Valley College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Napa, California, Napa Valley College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Napa Valley College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Napa Valley College is $11,908, 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 $14,644. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,795 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,147 in federal student loans.
Is Napa Valley College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Napa Valley College earn a median of $49,517, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Napa Valley College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Napa Valley 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 1.64%, well above the typical college. About 9.9% 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 $75,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Napa Valley College.
- Rockland Community CollegeSuffern, NY · Close peer29% grad $50,243 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Anoka-Ramsey Community CollegeCoon Rapids, MN · Close peer27% grad $48,342 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- College of MarinKentfield, CA · Close peer38% grad $42,654 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · same state
- Rochester Community and Technical CollegeRochester, MN · Close peer27% grad $45,287 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- North Hennepin Community CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN · Close peer19% grad $51,142 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Lake Superior CollegeDuluth, MN · Close peer40% grad $46,449 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note