West Valley College
- Graduation Rate
- 52% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,688 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $3,423 A
- 80% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 6,416
Bottom line: A B+ overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 99.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $99.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $99.0 over 20 years. Net gain: $1,341,217.
What The Data Says
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A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $99.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why West Valley College Matters
West Valley College is a public community college in Saratoga, 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
- 6,416
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose West Valley 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 $3,423 a year after grants and scholarships — 80% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,688 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.74 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
West Valley College has an impressive net price of just $3,423, making it an affordable option for many students. This low cost allows students to focus on their education without the burden of excessive debt.
In terms of outcomes, West Valley College graduates earn a median salary of $51,688 ten years after enrollment. While the graduation rate stands at 52%, this figure reflects the challenges many students face, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds. The college serves a diverse student body, with a 12% Pell Grant rate indicating support for those with financial need.
This college is ideal for students interested in Humanities, Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Communications, and Visual & Performing Arts. Students who thrive here are those seeking a supportive environment with a focus on practical skills and career readiness. The combination of affordability and solid earning potential makes West Valley College a compelling choice for many.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective West Valley 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 West Valley College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
West Valley College, located in Saratoga, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 36%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $15,671
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.75
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
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 West Valley College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at West Valley College is $8,702, 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 $3,423. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,658 after need-based grants.
- In-State Tuition
- $0
- Out-of-State
- $8,702
- Avg Net Price
- $3,423
- Pell Grant Rate
- 12%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 0%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,658
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,226
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,974
- Family Income $110K+
- $9,893
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 West Valley 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 West Valley College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of West Valley College earn a median of $51,688, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,764
- 8 Years
- $44,783
- 10 Years
- $51,688
- Earning > $25K
- 50%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (150)
- 20%
- 100% (150)
- 20%
- 100% (150)
- 20%
- 100% (150)
- 20%
How West 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 West Valley College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, West Valley College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,423/year ($13,692 total). Graduates earn $51,688 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,354,909 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,341,217 (99.0× your investment).. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $13,692
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,354,909
- Net Return
- $1,341,217
- ROI Multiple
- 99.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,423
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields West Valley 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%
- Social Sciences 10%
- Business & Marketing 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Communications 4%
- Psychology 3%
- Mathematics & Statistics 3%
- Education 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for West Valley 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
- 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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into West Valley College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
West Valley College, located in Saratoga, California, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend West Valley College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at West Valley College is $8,702, 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 $3,423. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,658 after need-based grants.
Is West Valley College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of West Valley College earn a median of $51,688, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is West Valley 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 West Valley College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, 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 West Valley College.
- Las Positas CollegeLivermore, CA · Close peer51% grad $51,088 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mission CollegeSanta Clara, CA · Close peer46% grad $50,936 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 net price
- Norco CollegeNorco, CA · Close peer37% grad $51,206 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Ohlone CollegeFremont, CA · Close peer53% grad $54,278 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Middlesex Community CollegeBedford, MA · Close peer23% grad $50,651 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is West Valley 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 West Valley College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, 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