Contra Costa College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in San Pablo, California. It enrolls 5,203 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes40
Value59
Affordability38
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Contra Costa College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Contra Costa College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,490 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,490
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,312
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,320
Room & Board (off-campus)
$23,238
Books & Supplies
$1,220
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,884
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,422
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,523
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,111
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,742
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,269
Over $110,000
$9,567
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,62525%percentile
$10,35075%percentile
$17,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $4,750
—
No Pell $4,750
—
Dependent students $4,000
—
Independent students $5,250
—
Female students $5,250
—
Male students $4,750
—
What this means:
24% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
2% of full-time students who enrolled at Contra Costa College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
2%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Contra Costa College earn a median of $40,850 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,850
Earning > $25K
63%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.3 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Contra Costa College is home to 5,203 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 56% are first-generation college students, 66% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
5,203
Part-Time
66%
First-Generation
56%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 47.2%2,456
Asian 16.2%843
Black 14.2%736
White 12.0%626
Other 6.6%343
International 2.3%121
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Contra Costa College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbSan Pablo, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
35%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Contra Costa College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
40 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Contra Costa College is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,528
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$9.4M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$99,296
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
106 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
106
100%
$99,296
Pros & Cons of Contra Costa College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Contra Costa College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Contra Costa College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Contra Costa College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Contra Costa College.
Is Contra Costa College hard to get into?
Contra Costa College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Contra Costa College?
Contra Costa College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Contra Costa College cost?
The average net price after aid at Contra Costa College is $9,490 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Contra Costa College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,850 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,490 per year. That's roughly 4.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Contra Costa College known for?
Contra Costa College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Contra Costa College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Contra Costa College are $40,850, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Contra Costa College accredited?
Yes. Contra Costa College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Contra Costa College?
Contra Costa College enrolls 5,203 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Contra Costa College?
Contra Costa College graduates 2% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Contra Costa College a public or private college?
Contra Costa College is a Public institution.
Where is Contra Costa College located?
Contra Costa College is located in San Pablo, California.
What programs does Contra Costa College offer?
Contra Costa College offers 40 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Contra Costa College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Contra Costa College is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Biological and Physical Sciences
Business Administration
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