Is Moorpark College Worth It?

Moorpark College costs $742 a year net, and with median debt of $9,500 against median earnings just under $49,000, the math works out in your favor at most price points. This is a low-cost, low-debt starting point where the risk isn't money , it's finishing.

The nursing program is the clear winner. An associate degree in Registered Nursing pays close to $79,000, which beats the median earnings for the whole school by a wide margin and reflects the steady demand for nurses across Ventura County and greater Los Angeles. Allied Health lands in the high $50,000s, another solid healthcare payoff. Agricultural Production Operations is the outlier: at under $27,000, it pays roughly a third of what nursing does, and given the local farming economy, that number is unlikely to climb much. If ag is your plan, treat Moorpark as a cheap stepping stone, not the finish line.

The real risk here is the 38.9% graduation rate. Almost six in ten students don't finish on time, and a credential you never complete gives you none of the earnings above. The nursing salary only helps if you get through the program and pass licensure.

The net price tiers reward lower-income families most. Under $48,000 in household income, you pay roughly $200 to $225 a year , essentially free. The jump comes in the middle: $48,000 to $75,000 pays about $2,243, and $75,000 to $110,000 pays $5,408, more than the over-$110,000 bracket. Middle-income families carry the heaviest relative load.

Moorpark is a strong financial fit if you enroll in nursing or allied health and commit to finishing. If you're drawn to agriculture or unsure you'll complete a program, look harder at whether the payoff justifies your time, even at this low a price.