Taft College
- Graduation Rate
- 28% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,861 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $2,823 A+
- 84% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,556
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 81.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $81.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $81.5 over 20 years. Net gain: $909,421.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 28% — 51% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 3.37% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $81.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Taft College Matters
Taft College is a public community college in Taft, 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
- 3,556
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Taft 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 $2,823 a year after grants and scholarships — 84% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,861 ten years after enrolling — 5% below the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 7% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.12 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Taft College boasts a net price of just $2,823, making it one of the most affordable options for students seeking higher education in California. This low cost allows students to focus more on their studies without the burden of overwhelming debt. With an enrollment of 3,556, the college maintains a close-knit community where students can easily connect with peers and faculty.
The earnings potential for graduates is notable, with an average salary of $38,861 ten years after enrollment. This figure reflects the college’s commitment to vocational programs like Health Professions and Criminal Justice, which are designed to equip students with practical skills for the job market. While the graduation rate stands at 28%, the data suggests that students who complete their programs are positioned for better economic outcomes.
Students who thrive at Taft College often come from diverse backgrounds, with 24% of the student body receiving Pell Grants. This indicates a strong support system for low-income students. As a public institution, Taft College provides a pathway for individuals seeking to advance their education without accumulating significant debt, focusing on real-world applications in popular fields like Business, Humanities, and Biology.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Taft 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 Taft College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Taft College, located in Taft, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $13,165
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 27:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.51
- First-Gen Students
- 63%
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 Taft College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Taft College is $10,852, 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 $2,823. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,934 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,108
- Out-of-State
- $10,852
- Avg Net Price
- $2,823
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,934
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,536
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $3,985
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 Taft 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 Taft College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Taft College report median earnings of $38,861, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,687
- 8 Years
- $35,364
- 10 Years
- $38,861
- Earning > $25K
- 40%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (60)
- 16%
- 100% (60)
- 16%
- 100% (60)
- 16%
- 100% (60)
- 16%
How Taft 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 Taft College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Taft College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $2,823/year ($11,292 total). Graduates earn $38,861 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $920,713 in total earnings — a net gain of $909,421 (81.5× your investment).. With a 28% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $11,292
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $920,713
- Net Return
- $909,421
- ROI Multiple
- 81.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $2,823
- Graduation Rate
- 28%
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 Taft College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Taft 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 3.37%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.3% 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 20.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $62,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.37%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 20.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 16.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $84,644
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,430,412
- Federal Grants
- $3,137,738
- Investment Income
- $-899,939
Top Programs
The fields Taft 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 37%
- Health Professions 10%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Psychology 4%
- Criminal Justice 4%
- Social Sciences 2%
- Mathematics & Statistics 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Taft 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
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Taft College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Taft College, located in Taft, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Taft College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Taft College is $10,852, 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 $2,823. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,934 after need-based grants.
Is Taft College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Taft College report median earnings of $38,861, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Taft College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Taft 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 3.37%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 16.3% 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 20.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $62,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Taft 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 Taft College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.12, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Taft College.
- Shasta CollegeRedding, CA · Close peer26% grad $39,269 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusPortales, NM · Close peer42% grad $38,550 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Lorain County Community CollegeElyria, OH · Close peer32% grad $38,837 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, WA · Close peer31% grad $38,955 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cochise County Community College DistrictSierra Vista, AZ · Close peer30% grad $38,033 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mt Hood Community CollegeGresham, OR · Close peer25% grad $41,125 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Taft 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 Taft College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.12, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note