Hartnell College Tuition, Demographics & Completion (2026)
Hartnell College is a public community college in Salinas, California, serving roughly 9,453 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $2,039 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,404. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (74.4%) and White (14.8%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,404
- 2024 Average Net Price: $2,039 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 9,453 40.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 39.98%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
- First-Generation Students: 64.8%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 35.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 36.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 15,309
- Room & Board: $28,953 annual estimate
Hartnell College: what the data shows
Common questions about Hartnell College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Hartnell College?
Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA (ZIP 93901).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Hartnell College public or private?
Hartnell College is a Public institution.
How much does Hartnell College cost?
Published tuition: $1,404 in-state, $10,374 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $2,039.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $828 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $465 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $3,124 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $6,856 |
| $110,001+ | $9,885 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,616.
How big is Hartnell College?
Total enrollment: 9,453 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 15,309 students.
About 40% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Hartnell College?
150%-time completion rate: 39.98%.
First-year retention: 73.4%.
What do graduates of Hartnell College earn?
Median earnings: $36,065 six years after entry; $44,316 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
31.53% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Hartnell College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (1,078 completions)
- Psychology, General (111 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (111 completions)
- General Studies (76 completions)
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (69 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (59 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (46 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (40 completions)
- Sociology, General (40 completions)
- Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations (37 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Hartnell College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 39.98%; median earnings $44,316 at 10 years; net price $2,039. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,404
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Hartnell College was $1,404.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$2,039
2024 Value
In 2024 Hartnell College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $2,039.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$8,156 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$2,039 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,616 4-Year In-State Tuition
$41,496 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$28,953 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$31,419 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$125,676 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Hartnell College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.53% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.34% 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 Hartnell 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 Hartnell 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 | $1,340 | $6,704 | $8,661 |
| 2014 | $1,420 | $7,060 | $8,624 |
| 2015 | $1,420 | $7,420 | $9,564 |
| 2016 | $1,420 | $7,670 | $9,406 |
| 2017 | $1,420 | $7,670 | $9,323 |
| 2018 | $1,420 | $8,870 | $3,647 |
| 2019 | $1,420 | $8,960 | $3,967 |
| 2020 | $1,400 | $8,960 | $5,680 |
| 2021 | $1,400 | $9,980 | $4,209 |
| 2022 | $1,404 | $8,994 | $4,502 |
| 2023 | $1,404 | $8,994 | $2,895 |
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
Hartnell College reported total enrollment of about 9,453 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 54% male and 46% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (74.4%), White (14.8%), and Asian (3.5%). About 31.53% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 64.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
40.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Hartnell College in 2024 is 9,453 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 15,309 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
73.4%
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 74.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
10.99% 100% Completion Time
39.98% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 10.99% of students graduating from Hartnell 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: 35% male / 65% female
- Psychology, General: 23% male / 77% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 53% male / 47% 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 Hartnell College.
Return on Investment
$44,316 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
5333.55% Return on Investment
Financial value analysis for Hartnell College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 46 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 1,078 completions
2. Psychology, General: 111 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 111 completions
4. General Studies: 76 completions
5. Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training: 69 completions
6. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 59 completions
7. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 46 completions
8. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 40 completions
9. Sociology, General: 40 completions
Most popular programs at Hartnell College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Hartnell College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Hartnell College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 36.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,975
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $4,974
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Hartnell College is a public institution located in Salinas, 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, Psychology, General, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 9,453 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (74.4%), White (14.8%), Asian (3.5%). The 150%-time completion rate is 39.98%. Approximately 31.53% of students receive Pell Grants. About 64.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Location
Salinas, CA 93901
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 39.98% graduation rate at Hartnell 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hartnell College located?
Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA.
How much does Hartnell College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,404 and average net price is $2,039 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $28,953 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Hartnell College?
Hartnell College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 15,309 students, Hispanic or Latino (74.4%), White (14.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Hartnell College?
About 64.8% of students at Hartnell College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Hartnell College earn?
Median earnings are $36,065 six years after entry and $44,316 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Hartnell College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 40.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Hartnell College public or private?
Hartnell College is a public institution located in Salinas, CA.
Is Hartnell College an HBCU?
No. Hartnell College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Hartnell College a tribal college?
No. Hartnell College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Hartnell College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Hartnell College reports 74.4% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Hartnell College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Hartnell 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 profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Salinas, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Suburban college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Salinas, California city 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.