Ventura College
#6 Best Online Education Programs in California- Graduation Rate
- 41% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,430 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $-982 A+
- 106% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 10,150
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. Ranked #6 in Best Online Education Programs in California.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 41% — 29% below the national average.
Why Ventura College Matters
Ventura College is a public community college in Ventura, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
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
- 10,150
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Ventura 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 $-982 a year after grants and scholarships — 106% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,430 ten years after enrolling — 7% above the typical college, against $13,876 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.18 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Ventura College serves over 10,000 students, making it a significant community hub for education in California. The college focuses on a diverse array of programs, including Humanities, Business & Marketing, Biology, Health Professions, and Criminal Justice. This wide selection allows students to tailor their education to fit their career aspirations.
Data from Opportunity Insights shows that Ventura College’s graduates earn a median income of $43,430 ten years after enrollment. While the graduation rate stands at 41%, the college continues to support students from various backgrounds, with 26% of students receiving Pell Grants. This suggests a commitment to accessible education for those who may need financial assistance.
Students looking to thrive here should consider the financial aspects. The net price for attending Ventura College is effectively negative, at -$982, which indicates that financial aid may exceed costs for many students. With a median debt of $13,876, graduates face manageable loan burdens in relation to their earnings. This environment is particularly suited for students seeking a community college experience that balances affordability with diverse academic offerings.
Rankings
- #6 Best Online Education Programs in California
- #11 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in California
- #13 Best Online Nursing Programs in California
- #14 Best Online Business Programs in California
- #35 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
- #35 Best Online Engineering Programs
- #35 Best Online Mathematics Programs
- #35 Best Online Mechanical Engineering Programs
Can I Get In?
How selective Ventura 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 Ventura College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Ventura, California, Ventura College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 40%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,797
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 25:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.51
- First-Gen Students
- 57%
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 Ventura College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ventura College is $9,615, 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 $-982. 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 $13,876 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,426
- Out-of-State
- $9,615
- Avg Net Price
- $-982
- Median Debt
- $13,876
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 1%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $-1,913
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $-2,393
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $524
- Family Income $110K+
- $6,577
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 Ventura 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 Ventura College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ventura College report median earnings of $43,430, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $34,084
- 8 Years
- $38,376
- 10 Years
- $43,430
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (268)
- 24%
- 100% (268)
- 24%
- 100% (268)
- 24%
- 100% (268)
- 24%
How Ventura 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 Ventura College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Ventura College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $-982/year ($-3,928 total). Graduates earn $43,430 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,191,044 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,194,972 (0.0× your investment). The median debt is $13,876, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 41% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a below average ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $-3,928
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,191,044
- Net Return
- $1,194,972
- ROI Multiple
- 0.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $-982
- Median Debt
- $13,876
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 41%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Ventura 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 47%
- Business & Marketing 8% $19,212 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6%
- Criminal Justice 5% $35,271 early-career
- Health Professions 4% $88,611 early-career
- Psychology 3%
- Social Sciences 3%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 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 Ventura 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ventura College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Ventura, California, Ventura College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ventura College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ventura College is $9,615, 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 $-982. 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 $13,876 in federal student loans.
Is Ventura College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ventura College report median earnings of $43,430, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Ventura 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 Ventura College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.18, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ventura College.
- Folsom Lake CollegeFolsom, CA · Close peer42% grad $42,568 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Glendale Community CollegeGlendale, CA · Close peer35% grad $41,540 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Golden West CollegeHuntington Beach, CA · Close peer47% grad $43,145 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Hartnell CollegeSalinas, CA · Close peer35% grad $44,316 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, CA · Close peer47% grad $44,956 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Butte CollegeOroville, CA · Strong match38% grad $41,810 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Ventura 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 Ventura College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.18, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note