At $7,549/yr net price, Foothill College graduates earn $57,072/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $23,072/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $7,549 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $30,196 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,072/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$23,072/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 60.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $10,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,428/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,045/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,954/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,391/yr |
| $110,001+ | $14,191/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $113,107 | $10,500 |
The Risk Factor
60.0% of students at Foothill College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 40% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Foothill College gives you one of the safer financial bets in California higher education. You pay about $7,549 a year net, you leave with median debt of $10,500, and you land at median earnings near $57,000 a decade out. That debt figure is low enough that a single year of post-graduation earnings covers it several times over, which is the clearest sign the math works here.
The 60% graduation rate matters more to your ROI than any headline salary. Finishing is where the return lives. If you drop out, you still owe money and lose the earnings bump, so the real risk at Foothill isn't overpaying for the degree, it's not completing it. Treat the credential as the goal, not just enrollment.
No program-level salary data is listed for Foothill, so treat the $57,000 median as a school-wide average that hides real spread. Technical and transfer-oriented paths through this Silicon Valley campus tend to pay differently than general associate tracks, and you should check earnings for your specific program before assuming the median applies to you.
The net price tiers stay tight across incomes, which changes who benefits most. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay around $6,428. if it earns over $110,000, you pay about $14,191. That's roughly double, but even the top tier stays under $15,000 a year, far below most four-year options in the region. For lower-income families this is a strong-value entry point. for higher-income families it's still cheap by California standards.
Foothill fits you if you want low debt and plan to finish or transfer. Look elsewhere if you need a guaranteed high-earning major, since the data here can't promise that for any specific program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Foothill College worth the cost compared to other community colleges?
Foothill College offers reasonable value with a net price of $7,549 per year and graduates earning $57,072 annually after 10 years. The low median debt of $10,500 makes it financially safer than most four-year schools.
What are the best paying programs at Foothill College?
Allied Health programs at Foothill College lead to the highest earnings, with graduates making around $113,107 annually. These programs offer strong job prospects and justify the investment better than general education tracks.
What is the graduation rate at Foothill College and does it affect ROI?
Foothill College has a 60% graduation rate, which is typical for community colleges. Students who don't complete their programs miss out on the earnings boost that makes the investment worthwhile.
How much debt do Foothill College students typically graduate with?
Foothill College graduates carry a median debt of $10,500, which is manageable given the average starting salaries. This low debt load reduces financial risk compared to universities where students often borrow $30,000 or more.