Pacific Union College
#4 Best Nursing Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 55% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $70,484 A
- Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $41,008 F
- 139% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 47% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 12.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.8 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Nursing Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $12.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,927,451.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 73% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.77% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $12.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Pacific Union College Matters
Pacific Union College is a private college in Angwin, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 805
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HSI · 95
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Pacific Union 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
Selective — admits about 47% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $41,008 a year after grants and scholarships — 139% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $70,484 ten years after enrolling — 73% above the typical college, against $27,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 13% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.78 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Pacific Union College has an average earnings figure of $70,484 for graduates ten years after enrollment. This strong financial outcome suggests that students can expect a solid return on their investment, making it an attractive option for those focused on future earning potential.
The college's graduation rate stands at 55%, which indicates that slightly more than half of the students complete their degree. While specific mobility data is not available, the school enrolls a diverse student body, with 34% of students receiving Pell Grants, hinting at a commitment to supporting students from lower-income backgrounds.
At a net price of $41,008, students should consider the financial implications of attending. With a median debt of $27,500, graduates may find themselves with manageable loan obligations, especially given their earning potential. Those who thrive here often pursue programs in Health Professions, Business, and the Arts, benefiting from a supportive community in a picturesque California setting.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Pacific Union 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 Pacific Union College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Angwin, California, Pacific Union College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 47%. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Retention Rate
- 89%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,738
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.81
- First-Gen Students
- 26%
- Applicants
- 1,364
- Admitted
- 661
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 Union College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pacific Union College is $37,173, 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 $41,008. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $41,008 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $37,173
- Out-of-State
- $37,173
- Avg Net Price
- $41,008
- Median Debt
- $27,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 58%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $41,008
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 Union 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 Pacific Union College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pacific Union College earn a median of $70,484, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $52,713
- 8 Years
- $61,312
- 10 Years
- $70,484
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (61)
- 29%
- 100% (61)
- 29%
- 100% (61)
- 29%
- 100% (61)
- 29%
How Pacific Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
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 Pacific Union College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Pacific Union College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $41,008/year ($164,032 total). Graduates earn $70,484 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,091,483 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,927,451 (12.8× your investment). The median debt is $27,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 55% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $164,032
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,091,483
- Net Return
- $1,927,451
- ROI Multiple
- 12.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $41,008
- Median Debt
- $27,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
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 Pacific Union College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Pacific Union 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 2.77%, among the highest in the country. About 6.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 45.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.77%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 45.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $130,974
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,781,101
- Investment Income
- $-2,285,010
Top Programs
The fields Pacific Union 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 77% $109,801 early-career
- Psychology 4%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Business & Marketing 3% $37,831 early-career
- Education 3%
- Communications 2% $37,089 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
- Transportation 1%
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 Pacific Union 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+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Pacific Union College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Angwin, California, Pacific Union College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 47%. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pacific Union College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pacific Union College is $37,173, 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 $41,008. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $41,008 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,500 in federal student loans.
Is Pacific Union College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pacific Union College earn a median of $70,484, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Pacific Union College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Pacific Union 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 2.77%, among the highest in the country. About 6.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 45.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Pacific Union 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 Pacific Union College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, 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 Pacific Union College.
- Menlo CollegeAtherton, CA · Close peer52% grad $76,419 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health ScienceCincinnati, OH · Close peer64% grad $66,111 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney, VA · Close peer64% grad $67,640 earn 41% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, MI · Close peer62% grad $69,151 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Dominican University New YorkOrangeburg, NY · Close peer54% grad $61,171 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar net price
- The Christ College of Nursing and Health SciencesCincinnati, OH · Close peer58% grad $68,303 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Pacific Union 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 Pacific Union College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, 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