Foothill College
Foothill College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Foothill College at a Glance
Foothill College is a public community college in Los Altos Hills, California. It is part of the Foothill–De Anza Community College District. It was founded on January 15, 1957, and offers 84 associate degree programs, two bachelor's degree programs, and 124 certificate programs. The college operates on a quarter system, one of just three on that system among California community colleges.
1957
69 years old
14,000
2,025
122 acres
Identity
Is Foothill College Worth It?
Foothill College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $7,653/year net price and $57,072 median earnings, graduates earn 7.5× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 58% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $10,500 is manageable at just 18% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Foothill College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Foothill College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 236 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 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #3 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #4 | California State University-San Bernardino | 100 | $4,564 | $59,977 |
| #5 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #6 | CUNY Brooklyn College | 100 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Foothill College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 18 in CA.
Best Programs at Foothill College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Foothill 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 $7,653/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
- Los Altos Hills, CA
- Student Body
- 11,137 students
- Graduation Rate
- 58%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $7,653
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $57,072
- Median Student Debt
- $10,500