Diablo Valley College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Pleasant Hill, California. It enrolls 15,358 students (a very 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.
Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes68
Value77
Affordability37
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Diablo Valley 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 Diablo Valley 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 $8,312 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,312
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
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
$16,774
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
$6,411
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,103
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,390
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,846
Over $110,000
$6,953
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
$10,021Medianpercentile
$6,50075%percentile
$13,50090%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 $6,334
↓ $3,687
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,521
Dependent students $5,450
↓ $4,571
Independent students $7,250
↓ $2,771
Female students $6,332
↓ $3,689
Male students $5,858
↓ $4,163
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,021), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
2% of full-time students who enrolled at Diablo Valley College graduate within six years, and 77% 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
77%
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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of $51,378 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,378
Earning > $25K
71%
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
$42,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,400, about 23% 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:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$6.2 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Diablo Valley College is home to 15,358 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students, 59% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
15,358
Part-Time
59%
First-Generation
45%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 31.5%4,844
White 28.7%4,408
Asian 18.5%2,838
Other 9.4%1,441
Black 6.6%1,014
International 3.8%588
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Diablo Valley College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbPleasant Hill, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
30%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Diablo Valley College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
76 distinct programs across
31 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 Diablo Valley College is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
24:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,243
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$7.6M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$101,484
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
285 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
285
100%
$101,484
Pros & Cons of Diablo Valley College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Diablo Valley 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
Solid post-graduation earnings
Low typical debt at graduation
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
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Diablo Valley 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 Diablo Valley College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Diablo Valley College.
Is Diablo Valley College hard to get into?
Diablo Valley College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Diablo Valley College?
Diablo Valley College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Diablo Valley College cost?
The average net price after aid at Diablo Valley College is $8,312 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Diablo Valley College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,378 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,312 per year. That's roughly 6.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Diablo Valley College known for?
Diablo Valley College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Health Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Diablo Valley College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Diablo Valley College are $51,378, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Diablo Valley College accredited?
Yes. Diablo Valley College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Diablo Valley College?
Diablo Valley College enrolls 15,358 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Diablo Valley College?
Diablo Valley College graduates 2% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Diablo Valley College a public or private college?
Diablo Valley College is a Public institution.
Where is Diablo Valley College located?
Diablo Valley College is located in Pleasant Hill, California.
What programs does Diablo Valley College offer?
Diablo Valley College offers 76 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Health Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Diablo Valley College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Diablo Valley College is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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