Santiago Canyon College
#5 Most Affordable Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 47% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,956 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $2,129 A+
- 88% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 10,579
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 135.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $135.9 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Most Affordable Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $135.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,149,076.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Every $1 invested returns $135.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Santiago Canyon College Matters
Santiago Canyon College is a public community college in Orange, 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
- 10,579
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose Santiago Canyon 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 $2,129 a year after grants and scholarships — 88% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,956 ten years after enrolling — 10% above the typical college, against $5,125 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.54 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 10,600 students, Santiago Canyon College is a great fit for those looking to dive into practical fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Construction Trades, Psychology, and Social Sciences. It stands out for its focus on accessible education, making it a solid choice for individuals aiming to build a path toward their career goals without the pressure of a large university environment.
When we look at what happens after graduation, graduates from Santiago Canyon College earn about $44,956 within a decade. This figure is a good benchmark for understanding the return on investment here, especially considering the affordable net price of just $2,129 after aid. For many students, this translates to manageable financial burdens, particularly given the median debt of only $5,125. It suggests that students can graduate with less debt, which can be a game-changer in terms of financial freedom.
In terms of practicality, Santiago Canyon College stands out for its affordability and supportive environment. The low net price and manageable debt load make it easier for students to focus on their studies and transitions into the workforce. Those who thrive here are often those who appreciate a community-oriented campus and are motivated to take advantage of the academic programs that align with their personal and professional aspirations.
Rankings
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges in California
- #14 Best Online Education Programs in California
- #16 Most Affordable Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- #25 Most Affordable Online Public Universities
- #27 Best Online Computer Science Programs in California
- #33 Best Online Nursing Programs in California
- #35 Best Online Business Programs in California
- #39 Most Affordable Online Colleges
Can I Get In?
How selective Santiago Canyon 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 Santiago Canyon College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Orange, California, Santiago Canyon College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 22%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,053
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 36:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.58
- First-Gen Students
- 54%
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 Santiago Canyon College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Santiago Canyon College is $9,612, 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 $2,129. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $5,125 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,164
- Out-of-State
- $9,612
- Avg Net Price
- $2,129
- Median Debt
- $5,125
- Pell Grant Rate
- 11%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $-219
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $454
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $4,833
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,014
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 Santiago Canyon 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 Santiago Canyon College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Santiago Canyon College report median earnings of $44,956, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,758
- 8 Years
- $41,260
- 10 Years
- $44,956
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.11x
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (267)
- 25%
- 100% (267)
- 25%
- 100% (267)
- 25%
- 100% (267)
- 25%
How Santiago 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 Santiago Canyon College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Santiago Canyon College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,129/year ($8,516 total). Graduates earn $44,956 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,157,592 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,149,076 (135.9× your investment). The median debt is $5,125, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 47% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $8,516
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,157,592
- Net Return
- $1,149,076
- ROI Multiple
- 135.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,129
- Median Debt
- $5,125
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 47%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,031,763
- Investment Income
- $-1,115,277
Top Programs
The fields Santiago Canyon 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 57%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Psychology 4%
- Social Sciences 4%
- Physical Sciences 2%
- Communications 2%
- Construction Trades 2%
- Health Professions 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Santiago Canyon 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
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Santiago Canyon College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Orange, California, Santiago Canyon College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Santiago Canyon College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Santiago Canyon College is $9,612, 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 $2,129. For the lowest-income families, those earning under $30,000, need-based grants can fully cover tuition, leaving little or nothing to pay out of pocket. The median graduate leaves with about $5,125 in federal student loans.
Is Santiago Canyon College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Santiago Canyon College report median earnings of $44,956, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Santiago Canyon 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 Santiago Canyon College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Santiago Canyon College.
- Hartnell CollegeSalinas, CA · Close peer35% grad $44,316 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price · same state
- Irvine Valley CollegeIrvine, CA · Close peer57% grad $49,156 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- San Diego Miramar CollegeSan Diego, CA · Close peer48% grad $48,224 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Middlesex CollegeEdison, NJ · Close peer34% grad $46,861 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- San Joaquin Delta CollegeStockton, CA · Close peer33% grad $43,212 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Golden West CollegeHuntington Beach, CA · Close peer47% grad $43,145 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Santiago Canyon 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 Santiago Canyon College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.54, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note