At $-1,180/yr net price, Skyline College graduates earn $55,702/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $21,702/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $-1,180 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $-4,720 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,702/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$21,702/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | -0.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 41.4% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $1,379/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $5,830/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $83,546 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Associate | $43,798 |
The Risk Factor
41.4% of students at Skyline College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Skyline College hands you a financial head start before you take a single class. The average net price runs negative , about -$1,180 a year , meaning grant aid outpaces the full cost of attendance, and you can walk away paying nothing out of pocket on average. That changes the entire ROI math, because there's little to no debt to earn back.
Ten years after enrolling, median earnings land near $55,700. That's a solid return when your upfront cost is effectively zero. A degree that costs you nothing and pays back into the mid-$50Ks is a strong deal by community-college transfer standards.
The catch is completion. The graduation rate sits at 41.4%, so more than half of students don't finish on the tracked timeline. The negative net price only helps you if you actually earn a credential or transfer successfully. If you stall out, you get the low cost without the earnings payoff, and the ROI collapses to whatever a partial education is worth in the San Bruno and broader Bay Area labor market.
The net price tiers are unusually friendly at the bottom. If your family earns $48-75k, you'd pay roughly $1,379 a year. In the $75-110k band it climbs to about $5,830 , still low, but four times higher, so the aid drops off fast as income rises. Lower-income families get the strongest deal here.
Skyline is a good financial fit if you're cost-sensitive, plan to transfer to a four-year school, and can commit to finishing. If you need a guaranteed bachelor's-level outcome or specific high-paying program earnings, look elsewhere , none of that is documented here, and the completion odds are the real risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skyline College worth the cost for students?
Skyline College actually pays students to attend with a negative net price of $1,180 per year due to financial aid. However, the 41% graduation rate means many students don't finish their programs.
What are the best paying programs at Skyline College?
Allied Health programs lead with average earnings of $83,546 after 10 years, making them the strongest ROI option. Vehicle maintenance programs earn significantly less at $43,798 annually.
How much do Skyline College graduates typically earn?
The average graduate earns $55,702 ten years after enrollment. This is reasonable for a community college, especially considering students graduate with minimal debt.
What is the biggest risk of attending Skyline College?
The main risk is not graduating, which affects nearly 60% of students. Those who do complete programs generally see positive returns given the low cost.