At $13,498/yr net price, Monterey Peninsula College graduates earn $42,176/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $8,176/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $13,498 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $53,992 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,176/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$8,176/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 6.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 30.2% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,241/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,519/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,221/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,750/yr |
| $110,001+ | $19,029/yr |
The Risk Factor
30.2% of students at Monterey Peninsula 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
Monterey Peninsula College gives you a modest financial payoff with real caveats. As a public two-year school, your net price sits under $13,500 a year, and median earnings ten years out land around $42,000. That gap is workable, but the 30% graduation rate is the number that should worry you most: if you don't finish, you carry the cost without the credential that justifies it.
No bachelor-level program earnings are listed here, so treat any major-specific promise with caution. The safest path is using MPC as a transfer step to a four-year school or a career-technical certificate that plugs directly into Monterey County's economy, where hospitality, healthcare, and agriculture drive local hiring. Coursework that doesn't lead to a transfer or a licensed trade is where the money leaks.
The specific risk here is time. Two years of net price stretches into three or four when only three in ten students finish, and every extra semester adds cost with no added degree. Non-completion is the failure mode that turns a cheap community college into a bad deal.
The net price tiers are close to flat across income, which is unusual. If your family earns under $30k, you pay about $12,200. over $110k, you pay $19,000. That's only a $6,800 spread, so higher-income families don't get the aid cushion they'd see at pricier schools, and lower-income families still owe real money.
MPC fits you if you're local, cost-sensitive, and have a clear transfer or trade target you'll finish. Look elsewhere if you're unsure of your path or unlikely to complete on schedule, because the low sticker price only pays off with a degree in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monterey Peninsula College worth the cost?
Monterey Peninsula College has a low net price of $13,498 annually, but graduates earn only $42,176 ten years later. With a 30% graduation rate, many students don't finish their programs.
What is the ROI for Monterey Peninsula College graduates?
The return on investment is modest at best. Graduates earn about $42,000 ten years out, which is below the national average for college graduates.
How much debt do Monterey Peninsula College students typically graduate with?
As a community college, Monterey Peninsula College costs less than four-year schools at $13,498 per year. However, the low graduation rate means many students may accumulate costs without completing their degree.
Which programs at Monterey Peninsula College have the best job prospects?
Healthcare and skilled trade programs typically offer better earning potential than the overall graduate average. Transfer programs to four-year universities may provide better long-term ROI than terminal degrees.