C
Average
Score: 51/100
Overall (traditional)
C
Outcome Rating
48/100 · earnings-weighted

Hartnell College

2-Year Public
📍 Salinas, California 93901
Hartnell College campus, Salinas, CA
Hartnell College campus, Salinas, CA. Photo: Sgerbic, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 30%
Outcomes
C
49/100
Affordability
A
83/100
Resources
C+
55/100
Experience
D
40/100
Prestige
F
28/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

8,478
Total Enrollment
30%
Graduation Rate
73%
Retention Rate
22.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$5,641
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Hartnell College ▼

28% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$776,880
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,247
1-Year Change
+2.5%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Hartnell College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$44,316
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$36,065
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
40%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
31.5%
Students receiving Pell grants

Earnings rank: 50th percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Hartnell College

Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing—$131,440+63%#13 of 962#13—
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services—$64,469+16%#3 of 8#6—
Criminal Justice and Corrections$34,648$52,744+13%#119 of 426#201—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$22,681$45,625+3%#302 of 947#637—
Business Administration, Management and Operations—$44,509-9%#367 of 547#446—
Psychology—$36,100-8%#77 of 106#90—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Hartnell College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $776,880
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,247/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 93933 (3.1% cap, Marina)

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🏆 Where Hartnell College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#23
Pre-Engineering
of 32 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $1,380 $8,970

Financial Aid

90%
Receive Any Aid
56%
Receive Pell Grants
0%
Take Out Loans
$5,641
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$1,360
$30,001 - $48,000$1,477
$48,001 - $75,000$5,267
$75,001 - $110,000$8,346
$110,001+$10,059

Student Demographics

8,478
Total Students
53%
Women
63%
Traditional Age (18-24)
28%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 6%
Hispanic 83%
Black 2%
Asian 3%
Two or More 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 28%
With Family 73%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~2,331 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 41%
Hybrid (Some Online) 41%
Fully Online 19%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 63%
25-64 (Adult) 24%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Hartnell College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Hartnell College?
Tuition at Hartnell College is $1,380 for in-state students and $8,970 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $5,641.
What is the graduation rate at Hartnell College?
The graduation rate at Hartnell College is 30%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Hartnell College a good school?
Hartnell College has a Repit College Score of 51/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (A): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (D): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Hartnell College?
Hartnell College has a total enrollment of 8,478 students.
Is there rental demand near Hartnell College?
Yes! Approximately 28% of students at Hartnell College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 2,331 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Salinas area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Hartnell College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Hartnell College

Compare with other 2-Year public institutions of similar size.

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Palomar College
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology