C+
Above Average
Score: 55/100
Overall (traditional)
C
Outcome Rating
49/100 · earnings-weighted

Pasadena City College

2-Year Public
📍 Pasadena, California 91106
Pasadena City College campus, Pasadena, CA
Pasadena City College campus, Pasadena, CA. Photo: Michael Wu, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
C+
56/100
Affordability
B+
81/100
Resources
C+
55/100
Experience
D
39/100
Prestige
D
39/100

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

23,592
Total Enrollment
41%
Graduation Rate
77%
Retention Rate
23.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$5,492
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Pasadena City 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
$919,812
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,773
1-Year Change
-0.2%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

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

$43,937
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$32,759
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$6,651
Median debt at graduation
47.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
31.1%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 15% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 46th 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 Pasadena City 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$90,156$107,357+33%#73 of 962#108—
Business Administration, Management and Operations$20,816$50,752+4%#226 of 547#346—
Social Sciences$29,847$48,709+13%#8 of 38#11—
Natural Sciences—$47,721-2%#4 of 5#5—
Communication and Media Studies—$45,235+5%#22 of 53#28—
Criminal Justice and Corrections$28,492$44,033-6%#298 of 426#352—
Psychology$24,894$42,700+9%#26 of 106#42—
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services—$41,808+22%#8 of 93#33—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities—$41,598-6%#566 of 947#809—
Sociology—$39,348-11%#24 of 29#24—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness—$33,915-16%#27 of 31#29—
Fine and Studio Arts—$30,107-5%#20 of 28#21—

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 Pasadena City College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $919,812
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,773/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 91101 (3.0% cap, Pasadena)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

✓ Sent — check your inbox

Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

🏆 Where Pasadena City College Ranks

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

#7
Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General
of 62 schools
#10
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs
of 42 schools
#10
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
of 100 schools
#12
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
of 50 schools
#14
Humanities/Humanistic Studies
of 100 schools
#14
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician
of 100 schools
#19
Biological and Physical Sciences
of 100 schools
#21
Child Care Provider/Assistant
of 100 schools
#30
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $1,104 $10,680

Financial Aid

78%
Receive Any Aid
47%
Receive Pell Grants
0%
Take Out Loans
$5,492
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$2,205
$30,001 - $48,000$2,702
$48,001 - $75,000$5,613
$75,001 - $110,000$8,070
$110,001+$10,004

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 1,208 grads/yr Biological and Physical Sciences 1,021 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 969 grads/yr Humanities/Humanistic Studies 908 grads/yr Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 785 grads/yr Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General 319 grads/yr Psychology, General 297 grads/yr Economics, General 287 grads/yr Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician 214 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 160 grads/yr Mathematics, General 119 grads/yr Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 118 grads/yr Art/Art Studies, General 115 grads/yr Legal Assistant/Paralegal 92 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 91 grads/yr Child Care Provider/Assistant 84 grads/yr Sociology, General 81 grads/yr Speech Communication and Rhetoric 80 grads/yr Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General 76 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 68 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Pasadena City College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Natural sciences managers
$161k/yr 104,300 jobs
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
$65k/yr 1,094,500 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs

Student Demographics

23,592
Total Students
53%
Women
59%
Traditional Age (18-24)
28%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 17%
Hispanic 47%
Black 4%
Asian 23%
Two or More 4%
Non-Resident 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 28%
With Family 72%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~6,629 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 44%
Hybrid (Some Online) 30%
Fully Online 26%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 59%
25-64 (Adult) 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College?
Tuition at Pasadena City College is $1,104 for in-state students and $10,680 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $5,492.
What is the graduation rate at Pasadena City College?
The graduation rate at Pasadena City College is 41%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Pasadena City College a good school?
Pasadena City College has a Repit College Score of 55/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (D): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Pasadena City College?
Pasadena City College has a total enrollment of 23,592 students.
Is there rental demand near Pasadena City College?
Yes! Approximately 28% of students at Pasadena City College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 6,629 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Pasadena area.

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

🎓 Similar Colleges to Pasadena City College

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

C+
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, CA · 13,569 students
C+
College of San Mateo
San Mateo, CA · 9,208 students
C+
Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA · 28,742 students
C+
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA · 17,439 students
C+
Sierra College
Rocklin, CA · 17,420 students
C+
Chabot College
Hayward, CA · 12,218 students

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