Copper Mountain Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Joshua Tree, California. It enrolls 1,323 students (a small, tight-knit 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
59/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes24
Value51
Affordability61
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Copper Mountain Community 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 Copper Mountain Community 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 $9,105 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,105
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
3%
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)
$1,390
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$13,570
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,216
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
$8,655
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,875
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,383
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,499
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
$3,50025%percentile
$12,00075%percentile
$24,49990%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
Dependent students $3,870
—
Independent students $10,500
—
Female students $8,070
—
Male students $10,750
—
What this means:
Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 44% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.
Graduation Rate & Retention
4% of full-time students who enrolled at Copper Mountain Community College graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
4%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
64%
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 Copper Mountain Community College earn a median of $33,281 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$33,281
Earning > $25K
56%
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
$30,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$41,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,300, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.7 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Copper Mountain Community College is home to 1,323 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 53% are first-generation college students, 71% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,323
Part-Time
71%
First-Generation
53%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 44.3%586
White 31.6%418
Black 7.6%101
Other 7.6%100
Asian 4.3%57
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Copper Mountain Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantJoshua Tree, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
44%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Copper Mountain Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
17 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 Copper Mountain Community College is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,179
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$87,202
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
44 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
44
100%
$87,202
Pros & Cons of Copper Mountain Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Copper Mountain Community 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
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Copper Mountain Community 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 Copper Mountain Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Copper Mountain Community College.
Is Copper Mountain Community College hard to get into?
Copper Mountain Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Copper Mountain Community College?
Copper Mountain Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Copper Mountain Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Copper Mountain Community College is $9,105 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Copper Mountain Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $33,281 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,105 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Copper Mountain Community College known for?
Copper Mountain Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Copper Mountain Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Copper Mountain Community College are $33,281, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Copper Mountain Community College accredited?
Yes. Copper Mountain Community College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Copper Mountain Community College?
Copper Mountain Community College enrolls 1,323 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Copper Mountain Community College?
Copper Mountain Community College graduates 4% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Copper Mountain Community College a public or private college?
Copper Mountain Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Copper Mountain Community College located?
Copper Mountain Community College is located in Joshua Tree, California.
What programs does Copper Mountain Community College offer?
Copper Mountain Community College offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Copper Mountain Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Copper Mountain Community College is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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