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Yakima Valley College

Public Yakima, WA · Urban · Far West · 80% data
B- Value B- Affordability C+ Earnings
Graduation Rate
31% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$43,499 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$11,843 B-
31% less than the typical college
Enrollment
2,770
Earnings +7% vs avg
Graduation -46% vs avg
Net Price +-31% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.3 over 20 years.

23.3× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $23.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,054,229.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 31% — 46% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $23.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Yakima Valley College

Yakima Valley College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

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
2,770
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Education, Health Professions, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Yakima Valley College

Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 47% overall
C+
Earnings
$43,499 median
B-
Value
3.7× net price
B-
Affordability
$11,843/yr net
F
Graduation
31% graduate
C-
Diversity
0.53 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Yakima Valley College is a solid choice for students looking for a well-rounded education in practical fields. With around 2,770 students, it has a community feel that many find appealing. The school has notable programs in Humanities, Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science & IT, allowing students to dive into areas with real-world applications and potential job opportunities.

After graduation, students from Yakima Valley College can expect to earn an average of $43,499 after ten years. This figure is important because it gives a glimpse into the potential return on investment for students. With a graduation rate of 31%, the school supports a diverse range of students, and many go on to find jobs in their fields. The affordability of education here is also a significant factor, with many students benefiting from financial aid, including a 38% Pell Grant rate.

When it comes to the financial bottom line, students can expect a net price of $11,843 after aid, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. The median debt stands at $13,966, suggesting that while some students may take on debt, it’s often within a reasonable range. Those who thrive here tend to be self-motivated and eager to engage in their studies, making the most of the resources and community support available at Yakima Valley College.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Yakima Valley College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Yakima Valley College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Yakima, Washington, Yakima Valley College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.

Full-Time Faculty
96%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,304
Student–Faculty Ratio
15:1
Diversity Index
0.53
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 Yakima Valley College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Yakima Valley College is $5,873, 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 $11,843. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,543 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,966 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$5,312
Out-of-State
$5,873
Avg Net Price
$11,843
Median Debt
$13,966
Pell Grant Rate
38%
Federal Loan Rate
7%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$10,543
Family Income $30K–$48K
$10,955
Family Income $48K–$75K
$13,029
Family Income $110K+
$20,259

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 Yakima Valley College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Yakima Valley College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Yakima Valley College report median earnings of $43,499, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$35,969
8 Years
$39,118
10 Years
$43,499
Debt-to-Earnings
0.32x
Earning > $25K
51%

Earnings Trajectory

$35,969 6yr $39,118 8yr $43,499 10yr

How Yakima Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation31%Earnings 10yr$43KNet Price$12KMedian Debt$14KPell Grant Rate38%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$11K$30-48K$13K$48-75K$20K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Yakima Valley College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Yakima Valley College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,843/year ($47,372 total). Graduates earn $43,499 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,101,601 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,054,229 (23.3× your investment). The median debt is $13,966, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 31% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$47,372
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,101,601
Net Return
$1,054,229
ROI Multiple
23.3×
Cost Per Year
$11,843
Median Debt
$13,966
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
31%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Yakima Valley College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Yakima Valley College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.87, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
0.87
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.04
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
3.9%
Support Ratio
0.96
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$2,873,703
Investment Income
$-2,742,797

Top Programs

The fields Yakima 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Yakima Valley College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Yakima, Washington, Yakima Valley College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Yakima Valley College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Yakima Valley College is $5,873, 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 $11,843. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,543 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,966 in federal student loans.

Is Yakima Valley College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Yakima Valley College report median earnings of $43,499, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

How Connected Is Yakima Valley College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Yakima Valley College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.87, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Yakima Valley College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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