Escondido, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Escondido, California shows: median public in-state tuition $30,265 (+449.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $56,930 (+4.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 77.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $16,650 (+24.0% vs U.S.) 2,041 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 5 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 2,041 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $30,265 (+449.1% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,930 (+4.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 77.2% (-10.7 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $34,666 (+247.8% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $16,650 (+24.0% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 63.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 85.1%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Escondido, California—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Escondido 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escondido, California | $30,265 | $34,666 | $16,650 | 63.9% | 2,041 |
| California (state median) | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,400 | 58.5% | 2,158,168 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Escondido, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escondido, California | $56,930 | 77.2% | 85.1% | — | — | N/A | 0.47 |
| California (state median) | $65,986 | 90.1% | 84.0% | 3.9% | — | 74.5% | 0.28 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escondido, California | $30,265 | $34,666 | $16,650 | 63.9% | 2,041 | $56,930 | 77.2% |
| Los Angeles | $19,040 | $21,911 | $17,436 | 71.4% | 121,181 | $74,165 | 87.7% |
| San Diego | $12,442 | $24,300 | $15,000 | 61.9% | 115,966 | $64,909 | 87.8% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,520 | $10,600 | 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 | $10,674 | 53.5% | 54,532 | $60,070 | 91.2% |
| Riverside | $15,606 | $21,765 | $11,884 | 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 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Escondido, 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, $56,833, John Paul the Great Catholic University
John Paul the Great Catholic University
In-state tuition: Escondido, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Escondido, California median in-state tuition is $30,265, +449.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Escondido, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Escondido, California is $16,650 (+24.0% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Escondido, California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Escondido, California center around $56,930 (+4.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Escondido, California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 77.2% at the median Escondido, California campus (-10.7 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
Escondido, California median public in-state tuition is $30,265, about +449.1% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +821.6%.
Median graduate debt is $16,650 (+24.0% above the U.S. median of $13,432). 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 Escondido, California are $56,930, about +4.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 77.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-10.7 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 85.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Escondido, California is 63.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Escondido?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 5 campuses in Escondido, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Escondido?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Escondido is $30,265 and median net price is $34,666. For California overall, medians are $1,350 and $8,343; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Escondido?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Escondido is $56,930 vs $65,986 for California and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Escondido colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Escondido is $16,650 vs $11,400 for California and $13,432 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Escondido?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 5 campuses in Escondido, California, 3 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include John Paul the Great Catholic University, Escondido Adult School, and Southern California College of Barber and Beauty; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1).
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON