C+
Above Average
Score: 54/100
Overall (traditional)
B+
Outcome Rating
76/100 · earnings-weighted

West Valley College

2-Year Public
📍 Saratoga, California 95070
Outcomes
C+
63/100
Affordability
B+
74/100
Resources
C+
56/100
Experience
D
36/100
Prestige
D
36/100

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

7,272
Total Enrollment
52%
Graduation Rate
83%
Retention Rate
21.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$6,541
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near West Valley College ▼

22% 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
$4,025,900
Avg Monthly Rent
$6,069
1-Year Change
+5.0%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

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

$51,688
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$41,764
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
50.7%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
11.9%
Students receiving Pell grants

Earnings rank: 84th 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 West Valley 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
Economics—$72,333+36%———
Communication and Media Studies—$65,280+51%#1 of 53#3—
Business Administration, Management and Operations$24,594$61,612+26%#38 of 547#106—
Biological and Physical Sciences—$56,438+12%#20 of 85#26—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$26,161$52,708+19%#56 of 947#235—
Sociology—$51,818+17%#5 of 29#6—
Criminal Justice and Corrections—$49,981+7%#145 of 426#240—
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services—$49,933+46%#2 of 93#5—
Psychology—$41,180+5%#36 of 106#53—

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 West Valley College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $4,025,900
  • Avg rent near campus: $6,069/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 95128 (1.9% cap, San Jose)

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.

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $1,380 $9,210

Financial Aid

72%
Receive Any Aid
22%
Receive Pell Grants
0%
Take Out Loans
$6,541
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$30,001 - $48,000$2,436
$48,001 - $75,000$5,505
$75,001 - $110,000$6,532
$110,001+$10,299

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 1,194 grads/yr Economics, General 175 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 144 grads/yr Speech Communication and Rhetoric 69 grads/yr Psychology, General 52 grads/yr Mathematics, General 40 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 38 grads/yr Sociology, General 32 grads/yr Legal Assistant/Paralegal 32 grads/yr Interior Design 28 grads/yr Child Care Provider/Assistant 26 grads/yr English Language and Literature, General 24 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 19 grads/yr Women's Studies 18 grads/yr Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 17 grads/yr Natural Resources/Conservation, General 16 grads/yr Political Science and Government, General 14 grads/yr Art/Art Studies, General 14 grads/yr Physical Fitness Technician 13 grads/yr Anthropology, General 12 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from West Valley College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$120k/yr 15,800 jobs
Economists
$115k/yr 17,600 jobs
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
$65k/yr 1,094,500 jobs
Survey researchers
$63k/yr 8,800 jobs
Social science research assistants
$58k/yr 40,600 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs

Student Demographics

7,272
Total Students
56%
Women
59%
Traditional Age (18-24)
22%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 29%
Hispanic 32%
Black 3%
Asian 23%
Two or More 12%
Non-Resident 1%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 22%
With Family 78%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~1,593 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 28%
Hybrid (Some Online) 33%
Fully Online 39%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 59%
25-64 (Adult) 27%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at West Valley 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 West Valley College?
Tuition at West Valley College is $1,380 for in-state students and $9,210 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $6,541.
What is the graduation rate at West Valley College?
The graduation rate at West Valley College is 52%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is West Valley College a good school?
West Valley College has a Repit College Score of 54/100 (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 West Valley College?
West Valley College has a total enrollment of 7,272 students.
Is there rental demand near West Valley College?
Yes! Approximately 22% of students at West Valley College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 1,593 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Saratoga area.

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

🎓 Similar Colleges to West Valley College

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

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
C+
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA · 7,448 students
C+
College of the Redwoods
Eureka, CA · 4,260 students
C+
Taft College
Taft, CA · 4,135 students

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