Cypress College
Cypress College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Cypress College at a Glance
Cypress College is a public community college in Cypress, California. It is part of the California Community Colleges System and belongs to the North Orange County Community College District. It offers a variety of general education, transfer courses, and 145 vocational programs leading to associate degrees and certificates.
1966
60 years old
$75M
$75 million
16,214
215
110 acres
Identity
Is Cypress College Worth It?
Cypress College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $4,606/year net price and $43,533 median earnings, graduates earn 9.5× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 36% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 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: Cypress College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Cypress College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #10 of 174 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 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #4 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #5 | Texas A & M International University | 100 | $3,637 | $48,386 |
| #6 | South Texas College | 100 | $1,751 | $36,788 |
| #10 | Cypress College | 86 | $4,606 | $43,533 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Cypress College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 14 in CA.
Best Programs at Cypress College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Cypress 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 $4,606/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
- Cypress, CA
- Student Body
- 13,354 students
- Graduation Rate
- 36%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,606
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $43,533
- Median Student Debt
- $10,000