Hartnell College
Salinas, CA 93901
About Hartnell College
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 findings
- Hartnell College charges about 0.3× the national public median tuition ($1,404).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 0.2×.
- Average net price runs below the California median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 39.98%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $44,316.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Hartnell College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 5334% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartnell College | $1,404 | $2,039 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Hartnell College really?
Key findings
- Hartnell College charges about 0.3× the national public median tuition ($1,404).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 0.2×.
- Average net price runs below the California median net price.
Hartnell College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $1,404
Finding Hartnell College charges about 0.3× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $1,404. That is about 0.3× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 0.2×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.1×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Hartnell College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Hartnell College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Hartnell College is $2,039.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $2,039 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $6,304 below the California median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $16,009 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Hartnell College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Hartnell College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Hartnell College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$1,404
Out-of-state tuition
$10,374
Avg. net price
$2,039
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Hartnell College is known for
Top program completions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies1,078
- Psychology, General111
- Business Administration and Management, General111
- General Studies76
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training69
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Hartnell College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Hartnell College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Hartnell College.
Campus
Location
Salinas, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 93901
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is about 0.1× the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Size
Enrollment
9,453
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 15,309
- Full-time share
- 40%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 31.53%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Hartnell College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
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
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Hartnell College graduates earn a median of $44,316 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Hartnell College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $44,316. Average net price used in cost models: $2,039.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Hartnell College graduates report median earnings of $44,316 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Hartnell College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (46 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Hartnell College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Hartnell College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Hartnell College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$12.3M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- California median 0.63× the median ($19.7M)
- Far West median 0.74× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 0.47× the median ($26.4M)
- California median 0.33× the median ($7,407)
- Far West median 0.33× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 0.20× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 36.0%
- California median 3.4 pp below median (39.3%)
- Far West median 9.7 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 22.0 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $11,975
- California median 1.2× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 1.2× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.6× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $4,974
- California median 0.77× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 0.71× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 0.68× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Hartnell College at a glance
Hartnell College
Hartnell College is a public institution in Salinas, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesPsychology, GeneralBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino74.4%White or Caucasian14.8%Asian3.5%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Hartnell College
Other campuses in Salinas, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hartnell College located?
Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA.
What is Hartnell College's tuition?
Hartnell College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $1,404 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $2,039 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
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 explains Hartnell College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($2,039), completion (40.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($44,316). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
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.
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
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.