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Pacific College

Private for-profit Costa Mesa, CA · Urban · Far West · 87% data
A Earnings B+ Diversity B Selectivity
Graduation Rate
71% B
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$70,064 A
Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$29,363 F
71% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
56% B
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +72% vs avg
Graduation +24% vs avg
Net Price 71% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.5 over 20 years.

13.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,471,294.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 72% more than the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $13.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
0.6%
Top 38%
Patents
14
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
0
Downstream influence

About Pacific College

Pacific 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
Private for-profit Special-Focus Institution
Carnegie Class
Special Focus
Enrollment
225
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Pacific College

Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 7% of colleges
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 36% overall
A
Earnings
$70,064 median
C
Value
2.4× net price
F
Affordability
$29,363/yr net
B
Graduation
71% graduate
B
Selectivity
56% admit rate
B+
Diversity
0.72 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

At Pacific College in Costa Mesa, California, students looking to jumpstart careers in Health Professions or Business & Marketing will find a supportive environment tailored to their ambitions. With an acceptance rate of 56%, the college strikes a balance between accessibility and selectivity, making it a good fit for motivated learners who are serious about their future. The small enrollment of 225 allows for personalized attention, which can be a significant advantage in practical fields where networking and mentorship are key.

Graduates from Pacific College see a median earnings of $70,064 a decade after they finish their studies. This figure reflects the potential for upward mobility in their chosen fields, especially for those in healthcare and business. While the college's Pell Grant rate sits at 28%, indicating that a portion of students come from low-income backgrounds, the prospects for those who graduate seem positive and promising.

When it comes to costs, the net price after aid stands at $29,363, and the median debt upon graduation is $22,469. This balance suggests that students can manage their financial commitments while pursuing their education. Typically, those who thrive here are those who are proactive about their careers and take advantage of the college's focused programs, leading to successful outcomes in the workforce.

Can I Get In?

How selective Pacific 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 Pacific College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Costa Mesa, California, Pacific College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 56% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.

Acceptance Rate
56%
Full-Time Faculty
6%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,265
Student–Faculty Ratio
10:1
Diversity Index
0.72
First-Gen Students
63%
Applicants
30
Admitted
10

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 Pacific College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

The average net price at Pacific College, the amount students actually pay each year after federal grants and scholarships, is about $29,363. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $29,386 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,469 in federal student loans.

Avg Net Price
$29,363
Median Debt
$22,469
Pell Grant Rate
28%
Federal Loan Rate
44%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$29,386
Family Income $30K–$48K
$29,331

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 Pacific 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 Pacific College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Pacific College earn a median of $70,064, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$62,792
8 Years
$67,912
10 Years
$70,064
Debt-to-Earnings
0.32x
Earning > $25K
73%

Earnings Trajectory

$62,792 6yr $67,912 8yr $70,064 10yr

How Pacific Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation71%Earnings 10yr$70KNet Price$29KMedian Debt$22KPell Grant Rate28%

College ROI Calculator

Is Pacific College Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Pacific College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,363/year ($117,452 total). Graduates earn $70,064 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,588,746 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,471,294 (13.5× your investment). The median debt is $22,469, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 71% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$117,452
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,588,746
Net Return
$1,471,294
ROI Multiple
13.5×
Cost Per Year
$29,363
Median Debt
$22,469
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
71%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Pacific College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 14 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
0.59%
Top 38% nationally
Patents Produced
14
Linked to graduates
Inventors From Low-Income
0.96%
Bottom-20% families

Top Programs

The fields Pacific 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

As a private institution in Costa Mesa, California, Pacific College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 56% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.

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

The average net price at Pacific College, the amount students actually pay each year after federal grants and scholarships, is about $29,363. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $29,386 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,469 in federal student loans.

Is Pacific College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Pacific College earn a median of $70,064, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Pacific College.

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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