Imperial Valley College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Imperial, California. It enrolls 7,652 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.
Excellent
86/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes64
Value99
Affordability84
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Imperial 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 Imperial 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 $1,115 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$1,115
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
51%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
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)
$1,148
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,852
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,153
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,930
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$11,998
What this means:
Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 51% 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
14% of full-time students who enrolled at Imperial Valley College graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
14%
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 Imperial Valley College earn a median of $34,487 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,487
Earning > $25K
57%
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
$26,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$37,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,700, about 29% 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 ~$30.9 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Imperial Valley College is home to 7,652 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 61% are first-generation college students, 54% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
7,652
Part-Time
54%
First-Generation
61%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 88.8%6,791
White 6.1%469
Black 1.2%88
Other 0.7%53
Asian 0.4%31
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Imperial Valley College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeImperial, California
Housing
Limited on-campus housing26 beds
Adult Learners
27%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Imperial Valley College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
62 distinct programs across
26 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 Imperial Valley College is 33:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
33:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,101
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.6M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,376
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
150 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
150
100%
$106,376
Pros & Cons of Imperial Valley College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Imperial 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
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
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
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Imperial 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 Imperial Valley College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Imperial Valley College.
Is Imperial Valley College hard to get into?
Imperial Valley College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Imperial Valley College?
Imperial Valley College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Imperial Valley College cost?
The average net price after aid at Imperial Valley College is $1,115 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Imperial Valley College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,487 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $1,115 per year. That's roughly 30.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Imperial Valley College known for?
Imperial Valley 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 Imperial Valley College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Imperial Valley College are $34,487, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Imperial Valley College accredited?
Yes. Imperial Valley College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Imperial Valley College?
Imperial Valley College enrolls 7,652 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Imperial Valley College?
Imperial Valley College graduates 14% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Imperial Valley College a public or private college?
Imperial Valley College is a Public institution.
Where is Imperial Valley College located?
Imperial Valley College is located in Imperial, California.
What programs does Imperial Valley College offer?
Imperial Valley College offers 62 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Imperial Valley College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Imperial Valley College is 33:1, 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.
Social Sciences
Liberal Arts
Biological and Physical Sciences
Related Guides
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Rankings That Feature Imperial Valley College
Imperial Valley College appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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90 UCD Score
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$32 Lowest Net
$138,687 Top Earn
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93 UCD Score
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$128,566 Top Earn
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93 UCD Score
216 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$92,446 Top Earn
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93 UCD Score
128 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$138,687 Top Earn
Best Criminal Justice Colleges in California
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90 UCD Score
152 Colleges
$480 Lowest Net
$78,988 Top Earn
Best Nursing Colleges in California
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93 UCD Score
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$480 Lowest Net
$93,610 Top Earn
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