At $6,078/yr net price, Cerro Coso Community College graduates earn $34,963/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $963/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $6,078 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $24,312 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $34,963/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$963/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 25.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 26.1% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,151/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,016/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,352/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,915/yr |
The Risk Factor
26.1% of students at Cerro Coso Community College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Cerro Coso's financial picture is defined by a low sticker cost paired with weak completion odds. At roughly $6,000 a year, the price is well within reach, but a 26% graduation rate means most people who start here leave without the credential they came for, and that's where the real financial risk sits. Paying two years of net price and walking away with no degree is the worst outcome, and here it's the most common one.
Median earnings a decade out land near $35,000. That's the figure to sit with: it's modest, and it reflects a rural Ridgecrest job market with fewer high-wage employers than a coastal California metro. No bachelor-level program earnings are listed, so treat this as a stepping stone toward transfer, a trade certificate, or a specific local job, not an endpoint that pays for itself on its own.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families most directly. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $5,000 a year, and the low absolute cost keeps your downside small even if you don't finish. Above $48,000, the price climbs to roughly $8,400, and past $75,000 it reaches nearly $12,000, which changes the math. At those levels you're paying double the low-income rate for the same uncertain completion odds.
This school fits you if you have a clear, specific plan: a defined transfer target, a licensed trade, or a job in the Ridgecrest area that this credential opens. The low cost makes that plan cheap to pursue. It fits you poorly if you're undecided or need the degree itself to lift your income, because the completion rate stacks the odds against finishing and the earnings ceiling is low. Go in with a concrete goal or reconsider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cerro Coso Community College worth the cost?
Cerro Coso offers a low net price of about $6,000 per year, making it affordable even with modest post-graduation earnings of $35,000. The main concern is the 26% graduation rate, which means many students don't finish their programs.
What is the return on investment for Cerro Coso Community College?
With low costs and decent earnings for community college graduates, Cerro Coso provides reasonable value for students who complete their programs. The bigger risk is not graduating, which happens to about three-quarters of students.
How much debt do Cerro Coso Community College students typically graduate with?
Community colleges like Cerro Coso typically result in minimal debt due to low tuition costs and abundant financial aid. Most students pay the $6,000 annual net price through grants, work-study, or small loans.
Which programs at Cerro Coso Community College have the best job prospects?
Technical programs in healthcare, automotive technology, and skilled trades typically offer the strongest earning potential at community colleges. Liberal arts transfer programs can be worthwhile if you complete a bachelor's degree elsewhere.