Antelope Valley Community College District
Antelope Valley Community College District — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Antelope Valley Community College District at a Glance
Antelope Valley College (AVC) is a public community college in Lancaster, California. It is part of the California Community College system. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District, with a primary service area of 1,945 square miles (5,040 km2) covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. Instruction is offered at several sites, including Palmdale and Lancaster, and through online and instructional television courses.
1929
97 years old
18,000
1,100
135 acres
Identity
Is Antelope Valley Community College District Worth It?
Antelope Valley Community College District delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $3,860/year, it's priced 81% below average, while graduates go on to earn $36,526 — near the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 33% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: Antelope Valley Community College District delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Antelope Valley Community College District compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #12 of 99 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #2 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #3 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #4 | South Texas College | 100 | $1,751 | $36,788 |
| #5 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #6 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
| #12 | Antelope Valley Community College District | 77 | $3,860 | $36,526 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Antelope Valley Community College District's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 12 in CA.
Best Programs at Antelope Valley Community College District
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Antelope Valley Community College District. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $3,860/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Lancaster, CA
- Student Body
- 11,534 students
- Graduation Rate
- 33%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,860
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $36,526
- Median Student Debt
- $12,500