Santa Clarita, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Santa Clarita, California: median public in-state tuition $20,093 (+264.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $57,106 (+5.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 85.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,056 (+13.4% vs U.S.) 17,454 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Santa Clarita serve students across California with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 17,454 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $20,093. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Santa Clarita, California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Santa Clarita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clarita, California | $20,093 | $18,174 | $15,056 | 67.7% | 17,454 |
| 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: Santa Clarita, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clarita, California | $57,106 | 85.8% | 84.7% | 2.5% | — | 82.7% | 0.36 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clarita, California | $20,093 | $18,174 | $15,056 | 67.7% | 17,454 | $57,106 | 85.8% |
| 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 Santa Clarita, 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, 67.7%, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Top college in Santa Clarita, 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, 85.8%, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Most selective college in Santa Clarita, 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, 84.0%, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Top college in Santa Clarita, 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, $54,397, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Top college in Santa Clarita, 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, $66,165, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Top college in Santa Clarita, 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, $41,665, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Top college in Santa Clarita, 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, $49,974, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Top college in Santa Clarita, 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, $57,106, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Top college in Santa Clarita, 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, $84,870, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Most affordable college in Santa Clarita, 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, $32,647, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
Top college in Santa Clarita, 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, 84.7%, The Master's University and Seminary
The Master's University and Seminary
In-state tuition: Santa Clarita, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Santa Clarita, California median in-state tuition is $20,093, +264.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Santa Clarita, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Santa Clarita, California is $15,056 (+13.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $11,537.
Median earnings (10 years out): Santa Clarita, California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Santa Clarita, California center around $57,106 (+5.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Santa Clarita, California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 85.8% at the median Santa Clarita, California campus (-2.2 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
Santa Clarita, California median public in-state tuition is $20,093, about +264.5% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +511.9%.
Median graduate debt is $15,056 (+13.4% 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 Santa Clarita, California are $57,106, about +5.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 85.8% 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% (-2.2 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 84.7% 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 82.7% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include The Master's University and Seminary (85.8%)—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 Santa Clarita, California is 67.7% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Santa Clarita?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Santa Clarita, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Santa Clarita?
Median in-state tuition in Santa Clarita is $20,093 and median net price is $18,174. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Santa Clarita?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Santa Clarita is $57,106 vs $65,668 for California and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Santa Clarita colleges?
Median completer debt in Santa Clarita is $15,056 vs $11,537 for California and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Santa Clarita?
Top campuses on this page include The Master's University and Seminary (graduation) and The Master's University and Seminary (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Santa Clarita?
Among 2 campuses in Santa Clarita, California, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include College of the Canyons; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Interdenominational (1).
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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