Cerritos College Tuition, Completion & Outcomes (2026)
Cerritos College is a public certificate and vocational school in Norwalk, California, with about 18,870 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $2,424 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,364. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $41,156 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,364
- 2024 Average Net Price: $2,424 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 18,870 45.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 30.51%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
- First-Generation Students: 59.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 71.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 22.3%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 32,639
- Room & Board: $22,088 annual estimate
Cerritos College: what the data shows
Common questions about Cerritos College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Cerritos College?
Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (ZIP 90650-6298).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Cerritos College public or private?
Cerritos College is a Public institution.
How much does Cerritos College cost?
Published tuition: $1,364 in-state, $12,004 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $2,424.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $1,538 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $1,784 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $3,774 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $6,599 |
| $110,001+ | $7,901 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,456.
How big is Cerritos College?
Total enrollment: 18,870 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 32,639 students.
About 45% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Cerritos College?
150%-time completion rate: 30.51%.
First-year retention: 67.1%.
What do graduates of Cerritos College earn?
Median earnings: $32,581 six years after entry; $41,156 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $8,447.
36.29% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Cerritos College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (1,944 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (1,870 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (1,057 completions)
- Retail Management (590 completions)
- Welding Technology/Welder (214 completions)
- Psychology, General (185 completions)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (184 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (176 completions)
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General (147 completions)
- Office Management and Supervision (100 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Cerritos College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 30.51%; median earnings $41,156 at 10 years; net price $2,424. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,364
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Cerritos College was $1,364.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$2,424
2024 Value
In 2024 Cerritos College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $2,424.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$9,696 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$2,424 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,456 4-Year In-State Tuition
$48,016 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$22,088 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$24,514 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$98,056 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Cerritos College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
36.29% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
2.62% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Cerritos College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Cerritos College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,346 | $7,114 | $3,165 |
| 2014 | $1,346 | $7,506 | $9,214 |
| 2015 | $1,346 | $7,926 | $2,561 |
| 2016 | $1,346 | $8,598 | $9,522 |
| 2017 | $1,346 | $8,710 | $9,520 |
| 2018 | $1,346 | $8,710 | $4,274 |
| 2019 | $1,346 | $8,766 | $4,022 |
| 2020 | $1,404 | $10,026 | $2,310 |
| 2021 | $1,346 | $10,026 | $5,797 |
| 2022 | $1,364 | $10,324 | $2,437 |
| 2023 | $1,364 | $12,004 | $693 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Cerritos College reported total enrollment of about 18,870 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (68.3%), White (12.0%), and Asian (7.1%). About 36.29% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 59.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
45.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Cerritos College in 2024 is 18,870 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 32,639 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
67.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 68.3%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
7.53% 100% Completion Time
30.51% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 7.53% of students graduating from Cerritos College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 33% male / 67% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 46% male / 54% female
- Child Care Provider/Assistant: 3% male / 97% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Cerritos College.
Return on Investment
$8,447 Median Student Debt
$41,156 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
20.52% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
4144.64% Return on Investment
2.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Cerritos College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 93 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 1,944 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 1,870 completions
3. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 1,057 completions
4. Retail Management: 590 completions
5. Welding Technology/Welder: 214 completions
6. Psychology, General: 185 completions
7. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 184 completions
8. Biological and Physical Sciences: 176 completions
9. Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 147 completions
Most popular programs at Cerritos College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Cerritos College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Cerritos College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 22.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $14,741
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,120
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Cerritos College is a public institution located in Norwalk, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, Child Care Provider/Assistant. Enrollment is approximately 18,870 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (68.3%), White (12.0%), Asian (7.1%). The 150%-time completion rate is 30.51%. Approximately 36.29% of students receive Pell Grants. About 59.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Location
Norwalk, CA 90650-6298
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 30.51% graduation rate at Cerritos College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 93 distinct degree programs, Cerritos College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cerritos College located?
Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA.
How much does Cerritos College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,364 and average net price is $2,424 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $22,088 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Cerritos College?
Cerritos College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 32,639 students, Hispanic or Latino (68.3%), White (12.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Cerritos College?
About 59.9% of students at Cerritos College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Cerritos College earn?
Median earnings are $32,581 six years after entry and $41,156 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Cerritos College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 30.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Cerritos College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $8,447.
Is Cerritos College public or private?
Cerritos College is a public institution located in Norwalk, CA.
Is Cerritos College an HBCU?
No. Cerritos College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Cerritos College a tribal college?
No. Cerritos College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Cerritos College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Cerritos College reports 68.3% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Cerritos College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Cerritos College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.