San Joaquin Delta College
#4 Most Affordable Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 33% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,212 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $2,407 A+
- 86% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 15,781
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 123.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $123.0 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Most Affordable Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $123.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,175,045.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 33% — 41% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.25% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $123.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 96%
- Patents
- 15
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 0
- Downstream influence
Why San Joaquin Delta College Matters
San Joaquin Delta College is a public community college in Stockton, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
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
- 15,781
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose San Joaquin Delta 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 $2,407 a year after grants and scholarships — 86% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,212 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $7,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 22% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.02 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
San Joaquin Delta College serves over 15,700 students, with a net price of just $2,407, making it one of the most affordable options for higher education in California. This low cost allows students to pursue their studies without accumulating significant debt. The median debt for graduates is $7,500, which is relatively manageable compared to national averages.
Earnings after graduation are an important consideration. Graduates from San Joaquin Delta College see an average income of $43,212 within ten years of completing their programs. While the graduation rate stands at 33%, the focus on practical fields like Health Professions and Business & Marketing can lead to solid job opportunities for students. The school serves a diverse population, with 25% of students receiving Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to supporting low-income learners.
Students who thrive here are those looking for a cost-effective path to skill development in practical fields. With strong programs in mechanics, psychology, and the humanities, the college attracts individuals who are ready to enter the workforce quickly. Its supportive environment and emphasis on affordability make it an appealing choice for many students in Stockton and beyond.
Rankings
- #4 Most Affordable Colleges in California
- #10 Most Affordable Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- #13 Best Psychology Colleges in California
- #13 Most Affordable Online Public Universities
- #17 Best Online Computer Science Programs in California
- #17 Most Affordable Online Colleges
- #19 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in California
- #21 Best Online Nursing Programs in California
Can I Get In?
How selective San Joaquin Delta 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 San Joaquin Delta College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Stockton, California, San Joaquin Delta College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 47%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,209
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 32:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 56%
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 San Joaquin Delta College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at San Joaquin Delta College is $9,772, 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 $2,407. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,291 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,180
- Out-of-State
- $9,772
- Avg Net Price
- $2,407
- Median Debt
- $7,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 25%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,291
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $1,589
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $3,996
- Family Income $110K+
- $7,087
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 San Joaquin Delta 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 San Joaquin Delta College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of San Joaquin Delta College report median earnings of $43,212, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,920
- 8 Years
- $37,831
- 10 Years
- $43,212
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.17x
- Earning > $25K
- 42%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (226)
- 14%
- 100% (226)
- 14%
- 100% (226)
- 14%
- 100% (226)
- 14%
How San 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 San Joaquin Delta College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, San Joaquin Delta College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,407/year ($9,628 total). Graduates earn $43,212 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,184,673 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,175,045 (123.0× your investment). The median debt is $7,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 33% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $9,628
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,184,673
- Net Return
- $1,175,045
- ROI Multiple
- 123.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,407
- Median Debt
- $7,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
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 San Joaquin Delta College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
San Joaquin Delta 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 2.25%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.25%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 16.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $90,078
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
San Joaquin Delta College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 15 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.11%
- Top 96% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 15
- Linked to graduates
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.06%
- Bottom-20% families
Top Programs
The fields San Joaquin Delta 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% $41,658 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $71,403 early-career
- Psychology 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5% $44,638 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $29,247 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
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 San Joaquin Delta 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 San Joaquin Delta College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Stockton, California, San Joaquin Delta College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend San Joaquin Delta College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at San Joaquin Delta College is $9,772, 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 $2,407. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,291 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $7,500 in federal student loans.
Is San Joaquin Delta College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of San Joaquin Delta College report median earnings of $43,212, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does San Joaquin Delta College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
San Joaquin Delta 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 2.25%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is San Joaquin Delta College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at San Joaquin Delta College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.02, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to San Joaquin Delta College.
- Fullerton CollegeFullerton, CA · Close peer34% grad $43,366 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Hartnell CollegeSalinas, CA · Close peer35% grad $44,316 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Chaffey CollegeRancho Cucamonga, CA · Close peer34% grad $42,975 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, CA · Close peer36% grad $42,446 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Sacramento City CollegeSacramento, CA · Close peer32% grad $42,214 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, CA · Close peer47% grad $44,956 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is San Joaquin Delta College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at San Joaquin Delta College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.02, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note