At $8,234/yr net price, San Bernardino Valley College graduates earn $39,676/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $5,676/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $8,234 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $32,936 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,676/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$5,676/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 22.1% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,059/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,949/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,452/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,273/yr |
| $110,001+ | $13,367/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | Associate | $76,460 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $54,109 | |
| Education, General. | Associate | $38,289 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Certificate | $33,281 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Associate | $31,133 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $30,409 | |
| Human Services, General. | Associate | $27,476 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $25,194 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $20,530 |
The Risk Factor
22.1% of students at San Bernardino Valley 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
San Bernardino Valley College costs about $8,000 a year, and ten years out the typical graduate earns under $40,000. That's a mixed picture. The low sticker price keeps the downside small, but the median payoff is modest, and only about one in five students finishes. If you don't graduate, you're paying for time without the credential that lifts earnings.
The health programs are where the money is. The mental and social health services associate degree pays nearly double the school-wide median, and nursing clears $54,000. Both are tied directly to San Bernardino's hospitals and care facilities, where demand for licensed staff is steady. If you come here for either, the math works.
The rest is weaker. The accounting associate degree pays about $31,000, below the school median, and the auto repair certificate lands near $33,000. Those aren't losses given the low cost, but they won't move you far past what you'd earn without the credential. The general education associate degree sits right at the median with no clear career track attached.
The specific risk here is completion. A 22% graduation rate means most people who enroll leave without a degree, and the earnings numbers only apply to those who finish. Pick a program with a defined license or job at the end, and treat finishing as the whole point.
Families earning under $48,000 pay slightly less than the average, around $8,000. That jumps to roughly $12,000 once household income passes $75,000. If your family is in that upper range, run the numbers against a nearby four-year path before committing.
This school fits you if you're targeting nursing or mental health services and can commit to finishing. If you want a general degree with no career plan attached, the return here is too thin to count on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Bernardino Valley College worth the cost?
San Bernardino Valley College offers a low net price of $8,234 per year, but graduates earn only $39,676 annually after 10 years. The 22% graduation rate means many students don't complete their programs, making the investment risky for most students.
What programs at San Bernardino Valley College have the best ROI?
Mental health services programs lead with $76,460 in earnings, followed by nursing at $54,109. Most other programs, including education and accounting, produce earnings below $40,000, which barely justifies even the low tuition costs.
How much debt do San Bernardino Valley College graduates typically have?
As a community college, San Bernardino Valley College has relatively low costs at $8,234 annually. However, with only 22% of students graduating and median earnings under $40,000, even small amounts of debt can become problematic for many students.
Does San Bernardino Valley College provide good financial aid?
The $8,234 net price suggests decent financial aid for a community college. However, the extremely low graduation rate and poor earnings outcomes mean financial aid alone doesn't solve the fundamental value problem at this institution.