At $29,092/yr net price, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates earn $38,317/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $4,317/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $29,092 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $116,368 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,317/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$4,317/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 27 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 33.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $10,674 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $28,648/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $28,976/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $30,552/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,652/yr |
| $110,001+ | $32,763/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $74,747 | $20,000 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Associate | $66,150 | $20,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $58,719 | $22,250 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Associate | $52,107 | $20,125 |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies. | Certificate | $46,869 | $9,500 |
| Construction Management. | Associate | $44,170 | $19,130 |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies. | Associate | $43,798 | |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Associate | $41,441 | $20,000 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR). | Certificate | $39,009 | $13,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Associate | $38,289 | $19,960 |
The Risk Factor
33.9% of students at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is a hard financial sell. You pay close to $29,000 a year and, ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns just over $38,000. That gap between what you put in and what you get back is the core problem here, and it doesn't close quickly.
The one bright spot is debt. The median borrower leaves with under $11,000, which is low for a private for-profit school. So the risk isn't drowning in loans. The risk is the price itself, and the odds of finishing. Only about a third of students graduate. If you're in the two-thirds who don't, you've paid the high net price and left without the credential that was supposed to justify it.
No bachelor-level program earnings are listed here, so there's no way to tell you which majors at this campus pay off and which don't. Treat any specific program's return as unknown until you see the numbers for that program directly from the school.
The net price tiers work against lower-income families in an unusual way. Instead of getting cheaper as income drops, the price barely moves. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $28,600. If your family earns over $110,000, you pay about $32,800. That's a difference of roughly $4,000 across the entire income range, meaning families with almost no means carry nearly the same sticker as wealthy ones.
This school makes financial sense only if you're confident you'll finish and you're targeting a specific job that this campus reliably places graduates into locally. If you're unsure about completing, or you're comparing it against a nearby community college, look elsewhere first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia worth the cost?
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia's nursing programs offer strong ROI with graduates earning $74,747 annually, but other programs show weaker returns against the $29,092 yearly cost. The 34% graduation rate means two-thirds of students don't finish their programs.
What programs at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia have the best job prospects?
Registered nursing graduates earn the highest salaries at $74,747 annually, followed by dental support services at $66,150. Vehicle maintenance and heavy equipment programs offer middle-income opportunities around $46,000-$52,000.
How much debt do San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates typically have?
Graduates carry a median debt of $10,674, which is manageable compared to many colleges. However, this low debt figure only includes students who actually graduate, not the 66% who don't complete their programs.
Do San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates earn enough to justify the tuition?
Average graduate earnings of $38,317 after 10 years barely exceed the $29,092 annual cost, making this a poor investment for most programs. Only nursing and dental programs show strong earning potential that justifies the expense.