Crafton Hills College
Crafton Hills College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Crafton Hills College at a Glance
Crafton Hills College (CHC) is a public community college in Yucaipa, California. CHC is part of the California Community College system. It offers associate degrees and career and technical certificates. Since its opening in 1972, more than 200,000 people have attended Crafton Hills and the college now serves approximately 6,500 students each semester with day, evening, and online classes.
1972
54 years old
5,019
Identity
Is Crafton Hills College Worth It?
At a value score of 29/100, Crafton Hills College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $42,553 — 21% below average — while paying $11,331/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 31% 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: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Crafton Hills College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Crafton Hills College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #185 of 235 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 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #2 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #3 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #4 | Texas A & M International University | 100 | $3,637 | $48,386 |
| #5 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #6 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #185 | Crafton Hills College | 29 | $11,331 | $42,553 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Crafton Hills College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in CA.
Best Programs at Crafton Hills College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Crafton Hills College. 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 $11,331/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
- Yucaipa, CA
- Student Body
- 5,687 students
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $11,331
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $42,553