At $5,692/yr net price, Los Medanos College graduates earn $42,454/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $8,454/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $5,692 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $22,768 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,454/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$8,454/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.7 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 38.9% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $4,363/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,876/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,915/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,485/yr |
| $110,001+ | $10,081/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $32,382 |
The Risk Factor
38.9% of students at Los Medanos 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
Los Medanos College gives you a low-cost entry point with a modest but real payoff. Net price sits under $6,000 a year, and median earnings ten years out land above $42,000. For a public two-year school in the East Bay, that math works if you keep your time and borrowing tight.
The one program with reported earnings, Liberal Arts and Sciences at the associate level, comes in around $32,000. That is below the school-wide median, which tells you the students who do best here are the ones who transfer to a four-year school or move into workforce fields, not the ones who stop at a general-studies associate degree. Treat Los Medanos as a stepping stone, not a destination.
The biggest risk is the 39% graduation rate. Nearly six in ten students don't finish, and if you pay tuition and living costs without a credential, you get the worst of both. Your ROI depends less on the sticker price and more on whether you actually complete and move on.
On cost, families earning under $48,000 pay under $5,000 a year, which is one of the cheaper paths into higher education in the region. Above $75,000, your price roughly doubles to around $10,000 , still low by four-year standards, but the discount for lower incomes is where the value concentrates.
This school fits you if you're using it to knock out transfer credits cheaply or retrain for a local job, and you're confident you'll finish. If you want a bachelor's-level salary from a single credential here, the data doesn't support that , plan your transfer before you enroll, and look elsewhere if you can't commit to completing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Medanos College worth the cost compared to other schools?
At $5,692 per year, Los Medanos College offers low tuition but graduates earn just $42,454 annually after 10 years. This puts it below average for community colleges in California, where many programs lead to higher-paying careers.
What is the graduation rate at Los Medanos College and does it affect ROI?
Los Medanos College has a 38.9% graduation rate, meaning most students don't complete their programs. Low completion rates reduce the school's value since students who don't graduate miss out on the earnings boost that comes with a degree.
Which Los Medanos College programs have the best return on investment?
The school's top programs are Liberal Arts and General Studies, which lead to median earnings of $32,382. These general education tracks typically prepare students for transfer to four-year universities rather than direct career entry.
Should I worry about student debt at Los Medanos College?
Student debt risk is relatively low due to the school's affordable tuition of under $6,000 per year. However, the bigger financial risk is not completing your program, which happens to over 60% of students.