Porterville College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Porterville, California. It enrolls 2,834 students (a mid-sized 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
57/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes34
Value41
Affordability45
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Porterville 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 Porterville 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 $12,301 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,301
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
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)
$1,438
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,308
Room & Board (off-campus)
$24,192
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,730
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
$12,113
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,641
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,228
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,825
What this means:
35% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
3% of full-time students who enrolled at Porterville College graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
3%
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 Porterville College earn a median of $36,328 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,328
Earning > $25K
59%
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
$29,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$37,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,800, about 21% 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:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.0 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Porterville College is home to 2,834 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 63% are first-generation college students, 58% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
2,834
Part-Time
58%
First-Generation
63%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 78.9%2,236
White 12.2%345
Other 4.3%123
Asian 2.6%73
Black 1.6%46
International 0.1%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Porterville College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbPorterville, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
26%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Porterville College offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
19 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 Porterville College is 19:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,366
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.5M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$103,625
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
72 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
72
100%
$103,625
Pros & Cons of Porterville College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Porterville 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
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Porterville 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 Porterville College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Porterville College.
Is Porterville College hard to get into?
Porterville College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Porterville College?
Porterville College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Porterville College cost?
The average net price after aid at Porterville College is $12,301 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Porterville College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,328 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,301 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Porterville College known for?
Porterville College is best known for its programs in Social Sciences, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Porterville College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Porterville College are $36,328, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Porterville College accredited?
Yes. Porterville College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Porterville College?
Porterville College enrolls 2,834 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Porterville College?
Porterville College graduates 3% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Porterville College a public or private college?
Porterville College is a Public institution.
Where is Porterville College located?
Porterville College is located in Porterville, California.
What programs does Porterville College offer?
Porterville College offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Sciences, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Porterville College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Porterville College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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