Monterey Peninsula College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Monterey, California. It enrolls 5,624 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
Outcomes50
Value51
Affordability29
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula 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 $11,373 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,373
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
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)
$1,188
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,572
Room & Board (off-campus)
$35,118
Books & Supplies
$1,065
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,975
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,605
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
$9,451
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,277
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,602
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,700
Over $110,000
$18,340
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.
$2,00010%percentile
$3,41625%percentile
$10,50075%percentile
$20,00090%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 $9,500
—
No Pell $5,500
—
Dependent students $5,500
—
Independent students $9,500
—
Female students $9,000
—
Male students $6,875
—
What this means:
19% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
7% of full-time students who enrolled at Monterey Peninsula College graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
7%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
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 Monterey Peninsula College earn a median of $42,176 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,176
Earning > $25K
65%
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
$36,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,300, about 17% 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
Monterey Peninsula College is home to 5,624 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students, 61% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
5,624
Part-Time
61%
First-Generation
54%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 51.3%2,885
White 28.8%1,621
Asian 7.2%406
Other 6.8%382
Black 2.9%162
International 0.4%25
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Monterey Peninsula College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbMonterey, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
39%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Monterey Peninsula College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
48 distinct programs across
22 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 Monterey Peninsula College is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,205
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$103,467
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
125 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
125
100%
$103,467
Pros & Cons of Monterey Peninsula College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Monterey Peninsula College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
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
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Monterey Peninsula College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Monterey Peninsula College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Monterey Peninsula College.
Is Monterey Peninsula College hard to get into?
Monterey Peninsula College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Monterey Peninsula College?
Monterey Peninsula College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Monterey Peninsula College cost?
The average net price after aid at Monterey Peninsula College is $11,373 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Monterey Peninsula College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,176 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,373 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Monterey Peninsula College known for?
Monterey Peninsula College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Monterey Peninsula College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Monterey Peninsula College are $42,176, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Monterey Peninsula College accredited?
Yes. Monterey Peninsula College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Monterey Peninsula College?
Monterey Peninsula College enrolls 5,624 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Monterey Peninsula College?
Monterey Peninsula College graduates 7% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Monterey Peninsula College a public or private college?
Monterey Peninsula College is a Public institution.
Where is Monterey Peninsula College located?
Monterey Peninsula College is located in Monterey, California.
What programs does Monterey Peninsula College offer?
Monterey Peninsula College offers 48 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Monterey Peninsula College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Monterey Peninsula College is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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