Ventura College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Ventura, California. It enrolls 10,150 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.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes57
Value—
Affordability62
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Ventura 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 Ventura 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 $-982 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$-982
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
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)
$1,426
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,615
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$9,306
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
$-1,913
$30,001 – $48,000
$-2,393
$48,001 – $75,000
$524
$75,001 – $110,000
$4,165
Over $110,000
$6,577
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
$3,50025%percentile
$13,876Medianpercentile
$12,76775%percentile
$21,00090%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 $6,665
↓ $7,211
No Pell $5,500
↓ $8,376
Dependent students $5,075
↓ $8,801
Independent students $9,399
↓ $4,477
Female students $8,000
↓ $5,876
Male students $5,500
↓ $8,376
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,125, less than completers ($13,876), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
17% of full-time students who enrolled at Ventura College graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
17%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
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 Ventura College earn a median of $43,430 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,430
Earning > $25K
68%
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
$36,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,000, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
29.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Ventura College is home to 10,150 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 57% are first-generation college students, 69% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
10,150
Part-Time
69%
First-Generation
57%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 66.5%6,753
White 20.6%2,093
Other 5.2%524
Asian 4.4%450
Black 1.9%190
International 0.4%43
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Ventura College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityVentura, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
27%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Ventura College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
58 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 Ventura College is 27:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
27:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,478
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$98,386
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
164 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
164
100%
$98,386
Pros & Cons of Ventura College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Ventura 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
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
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Ventura 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 Ventura College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Ventura College.
Is Ventura College hard to get into?
Ventura College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Ventura College?
Ventura College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Ventura College cost?
The average net price after aid at Ventura College is $-982 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Ventura College known for?
Ventura 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 Ventura College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Ventura College are $43,430, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Ventura College accredited?
Yes. Ventura College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Ventura College?
Ventura College enrolls 10,150 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Ventura College?
Ventura College graduates 17% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Ventura College a public or private college?
Ventura College is a Public institution.
Where is Ventura College located?
Ventura College is located in Ventura, California.
What programs does Ventura College offer?
Ventura College offers 58 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Ventura College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ventura College is 27:1, 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.
Liberal Arts
Biological and Physical Sciences
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Related Guides
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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