Pasadena City College Tuition & Completion (2026)
Pasadena City College is a public community college in Pasadena, California, with about 21,466 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $3,864 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,180. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (47.6%) and Asian (23.2%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,180
- 2024 Average Net Price: $3,864 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 21,466 40.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 47.87%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
- First-Generation Students: 56.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 77.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 43.7%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 36,437
- Room & Board: $19,431 annual estimate
Pasadena City College: what the data shows
Common questions about Pasadena City College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Pasadena City College?
Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, CA (ZIP 91106-2003).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Pasadena City College public or private?
Pasadena City College is a Public institution.
How much does Pasadena City College cost?
Published tuition: $1,180 in-state, $9,820 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $3,864.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $3,051 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $2,631 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $6,003 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $9,136 |
| $110,001+ | $11,261 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $4,720.
How big is Pasadena City College?
Total enrollment: 21,466 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 36,437 students.
About 40% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Pasadena City College?
150%-time completion rate: 47.87%.
First-year retention: 76.0%.
What do graduates of Pasadena City College earn?
Median earnings: $32,759 six years after entry; $43,937 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $6,651.
31.12% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Pasadena City College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (1,208 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (1,021 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (969 completions)
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies (908 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (785 completions)
- Engineering Technologies (319 completions)
- Psychology, General (297 completions)
- Economics, General (287 completions)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (214 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (160 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Pasadena City College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 47.87%; median earnings $43,937 at 10 years; net price $3,864. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,180
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Pasadena City College was $1,180.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$3,864
2024 Value
In 2024 Pasadena City College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $3,864.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,456 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$3,864 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$4,720 4-Year In-State Tuition
$39,280 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$19,431 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$938 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$21,549 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$86,196 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Pasadena City College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.12% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.91% 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 Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City 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 | $1,152 | $6,168 | $5,718 |
| 2014 | $1,152 | $6,168 | $1,824 |
| 2015 | $1,152 | $6,180 | $5,396 |
| 2016 | $1,348 | $6,332 | $5,574 |
| 2017 | $1,348 | $7,004 | $6,742 |
| 2018 | $1,166 | $7,548 | $4,559 |
| 2019 | $1,168 | $7,552 | $2,920 |
| 2020 | $1,212 | $7,476 | $3,703 |
| 2021 | $1,212 | $7,476 | $3,800 |
| 2022 | $1,172 | $9,572 | $1,756 |
| 2023 | $1,180 | $10,756 | $3,123 |
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
Pasadena City College reported total enrollment of about 21,466 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 46% male and 54% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (47.6%), Asian (23.2%), and White (15.7%). About 31.12% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 56.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
40.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pasadena City College in 2024 is 21,466 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 36,437 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
76.0%
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 47.6%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
13.23% 100% Completion Time
47.87% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 13.23% of students graduating from Pasadena City 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
- Biological and Physical Sciences: 48% male / 52% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 54% male / 46% 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 Pasadena City College.
Return on Investment
$6,651 Median Student Debt
$43,937 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
15.14% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
2742.71% Return on Investment
1.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Pasadena City College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 100 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 1,208 completions
2. Biological and Physical Sciences: 1,021 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 969 completions
4. Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 908 completions
5. Health Professions and Related Programs: 785 completions
6. Engineering Technologies: 319 completions
7. Psychology, General: 297 completions
8. Economics, General: 287 completions
9. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 214 completions
Most popular programs at Pasadena City College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Pasadena City College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Pasadena City College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 43.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $9,708
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,456
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Pasadena City College is a public institution located in Pasadena, 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, Biological and Physical Sciences, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 21,466 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (47.6%), Asian (23.2%), White (15.7%). The 150%-time completion rate is 47.87%. Approximately 31.12% of students receive Pell Grants. About 56.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Location
Pasadena, CA 91106-2003
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 100 distinct degree programs, Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College located?
Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, CA.
How much does Pasadena City College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,180 and average net price is $3,864 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,431 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Pasadena City College?
Pasadena City College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 36,437 students, Hispanic or Latino (47.6%), Asian (23.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Pasadena City College?
About 56.4% of students at Pasadena City College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Pasadena City College earn?
Median earnings are $32,759 six years after entry and $43,937 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pasadena City College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 47.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pasadena City College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $6,651.
Is Pasadena City College public or private?
Pasadena City College is a public institution located in Pasadena, CA.
Is Pasadena City College an HBCU?
No. Pasadena City College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Pasadena City College a tribal college?
No. Pasadena City College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Pasadena City College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Pasadena City College reports 47.6% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Pasadena City College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Pasadena City 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
- Pasadena, 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
- Pasadena, 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.