Orange, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Orange, California: median public in-state tuition $13,494 (+144.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $70,070 (+28.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,500 (+54.5% vs U.S.) 18,363 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 18,363 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $13,494 (+144.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $70,070 (+28.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 90.7% (+2.7 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $16,534 (+65.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $20,500 (+54.5% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $11,537
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 81.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 91.8%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Orange serve students across California with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 18,363 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $13,494. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Orange, California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Orange vs California & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange, California | $13,494 | $16,534 | $20,500 | 81.9% | 18,363 |
| California (state median) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,537 | 59.0% | 2,134,322 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Orange, California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange, California | $70,070 | 90.7% | 91.8% | 2.5% | — | 76.6% | 0.29 |
| California (state median) | $65,668 | 90.0% | 83.8% | 3.7% | — | 74.1% | 0.28 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in California (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange, California | $13,494 | $16,534 | $20,500 | 81.9% | 18,363 | $70,070 | 90.7% |
| Los Angeles | $16,900 | $21,711 | $18,375 | 71.7% | 120,534 | $74,165 | 87.7% |
| San Diego | $13,284 | $23,205 | $13,000 | 69.2% | 95,661 | $66,228 | 89.4% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,520 | $10,674 | 50.8% | 94,048 | $64,876 | 91.3% |
| Long Beach | $4,453 | $14,158 | $11,812 | 68.9% | 60,761 | $64,403 | 91.1% |
| Fullerton | $5,420 | $6,555 | $13,750 | 70.2% | 56,299 | $56,324 | 89.2% |
| Fresno | $7,350 | $20,190 | $10,976 | 53.5% | 54,532 | $60,070 | 91.2% |
| Riverside | $15,606 | $21,765 | $11,098 | 60.8% | 53,903 | $61,824 | 90.9% |
| Pasadena | $31,530 | $25,065 | $13,194 | 37.4% | 49,021 | $62,222 | 84.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Orange, California by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 81.9%, Chapman University
Chapman University
Top college in Orange, California by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.7%, Chapman University
Chapman University
Most selective college in Orange, California (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 65.4%, Chapman University
Chapman University
Top college in Orange, California by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,362, Chapman University
Chapman University
Top college in Orange, California by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $112,780, Chapman University
Chapman University
Top college in Orange, California by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $58,080, Chapman University
Chapman University
Top college in Orange, California by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $67,467, Chapman University
Chapman University
Top college in Orange, California by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $70,070, Chapman University
Chapman University
Top college in Orange, California by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $94,384, Chapman University
Chapman University
Most affordable college in Orange, California (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $46,555, Chapman University
Chapman University
Top college in Orange, California by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 91.8%, Chapman University
Chapman University
In-state tuition: Orange, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Orange, California median in-state tuition is $13,494, +144.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Orange, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Orange, California is $20,500 (+54.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,537.
Median earnings (10 years out): Orange, California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Orange, California center around $70,070 (+28.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Orange, California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.7% at the median Orange, California campus (+2.7 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Orange, California median public in-state tuition is $13,494, about +144.8% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +310.9%.
Median graduate debt is $20,500 (+54.5% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Orange, California are $70,070, about +28.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 90.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+2.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 91.8% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 76.6% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Chapman University (90.7%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Orange, California is 81.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Orange?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Orange, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Orange?
Median in-state tuition in Orange is $13,494 and median net price is $16,534. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Orange?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Orange is $70,070 vs $65,668 for California and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Orange colleges?
Median completer debt in Orange is $20,500 vs $11,537 for California and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Orange?
Top campuses on this page include Chapman University (graduation) and Chapman University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Orange?
Among 4 campuses in Orange, California, 3 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include South Coast College, Santiago Canyon College, and Sri Sai Krish Institute; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (1).
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON