At $12,591/yr net price, Evergreen Valley College graduates earn $53,077/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $19,077/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $12,591 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $50,364 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,077/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$19,077/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 42.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $13,219 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,489/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,739/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,730/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,057/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $71,957 | $11,218 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $32,382 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $31,839 | |
| Social Sciences, General. | Associate | $28,236 | |
| Psychology, General. | Associate | $20,140 |
The Risk Factor
42.8% of students at Evergreen Valley College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Evergreen Valley College gives you a mixed financial return that hinges almost entirely on which program you pick. The nursing associate degree is the clear winner and everything else lags far behind it. Median earnings ten years out sit near what a single strong program pulls up, so the school-wide number hides a wide gap between programs.
Nursing is the reason to come here. Graduates earn more than double what psychology or social sciences graduates make, and they do it while carrying less debt than the median. If you can get into and finish the nursing track in San Jose's health care market, the math works in your favor.
The other programs are a harder sell. Liberal arts, criminal justice, social sciences, and psychology associate degrees all land in the low $30,000s or below, with psychology at the bottom around $20,000. These are terminal two-year credentials in the data, and at those earnings the payoff is weak unless you plan to transfer to a four-year school afterward.
The main risk here is the 42.8% graduation rate. More than half the students who start don't finish, and if you borrow and leave without a credential, you carry debt with no degree to show for it. Debt levels are modest overall, which softens the blow, but only if you graduate.
Net price climbs sharply as family income rises. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay in the low $11,000s per year. Above $75,000, your cost jumps to roughly $19,000, so the value proposition tightens considerably for middle-income families.
Come here if you want nursing or plan to transfer. If you're set on psychology or social sciences as an endpoint, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Evergreen Valley College worth the money?
Evergreen Valley College offers decent value with a low net price of $12,591 per year and graduates earning $53,077 annually after 10 years. However, the 43% graduation rate means many students don't finish their programs.
What are the best paying programs at Evergreen Valley College?
Nursing programs at Evergreen Valley College lead to the highest earnings at nearly $72,000 annually. Liberal arts graduates earn about $32,000, while psychology majors earn just over $20,000.
How much debt do Evergreen Valley College graduates have?
Evergreen Valley College graduates carry a median debt of $13,219, which is manageable given the low tuition costs. The debt-to-income ratio is reasonable for nursing graduates but concerning for lower-paying majors.
Does Evergreen Valley College have a good graduation rate?
Only 43% of students graduate from Evergreen Valley College, which is below average for community colleges. This low completion rate represents a significant financial risk for students who don't finish their degrees.