At $10,029/yr net price, Santa Barbara City College graduates earn $47,647/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $13,647/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $10,029 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $40,116 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,647/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$13,647/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 35.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $11,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,061/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,211/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,625/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,555/yr |
| $110,001+ | $18,111/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 | $79,081 | $18,360 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $64,990 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $46,087 |
The Risk Factor
35.6% of students at Santa Barbara City 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
Santa Barbara City College graduates earn a median of $47,647 a year, a decent return on a two-year college with $11,000 of median debt. The financial risk here is completion: only about one in three students finishes, and the earnings figure only applies if you're in that group.
The nursing associate degree is the clear payoff. At roughly $79,000 a year, it earns about $32,000 more than the median SBCC graduate and $14,000 more than the allied health degree, the next best program listed. That premium comes with more borrowing, around $18,360, but nursing wages in California cover it quickly. If a health career is your goal, this is where the money is.
The health and medical administrative certificate lands near the school-wide median, so it moves you into work faster but doesn't lift your pay much above the typical graduate. Outside of nursing and allied health, no bachelor-level outcomes exist here, so treat this as a place to earn a specific credential or to transfer, not to end your education.
The net price tiers punish higher-income families sharply. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $8,061 a year. over $110,000, that jumps to $18,111 for the same associate degree. Middle-income families in the $48,000 to $75,000 range see the biggest relative squeeze, paying more than $12,000 with less aid to offset it.
SBCC is a good fit if you want to enter nursing or allied health, or use low debt as a bridge to a four-year school. If you're aiming for a field not represented in these programs and have no transfer plan, the 35.6% graduation rate makes the payoff too uncertain to count on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Barbara City College worth the cost?
Santa Barbara City College offers strong value for nursing and health programs, with nursing graduates earning $79,081 annually. However, the 36% graduation rate means many students don't complete their programs, which reduces overall ROI.
What programs at Santa Barbara City College have the best job prospects?
Nursing programs lead with $79,081 average earnings, followed by allied health at $64,990. These health-focused programs significantly outperform the school's overall graduate earnings of $47,647.
How much debt do Santa Barbara City College students graduate with?
The median debt is $11,000, which is manageable compared to four-year schools. This low debt load helps offset the modest earnings for most graduates.
Should I choose Santa Barbara City College over a four-year university?
SBCC makes financial sense if you're pursuing nursing or health programs, where earnings justify the cost. For other fields, the low graduation rate and modest earnings may limit long-term career growth compared to a bachelor's degree.