Fresno City College
Fresno City College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Fresno City College at a Glance
Fresno City College is a public community college in Fresno, California. It is part of the State Center Community College District within the California Community Colleges system. Fresno City College operates on a semester schedule and offers associate degrees and certificates.
1910
116 years old
21,002
Identity
Is Fresno City College Worth It?
At a value score of 27/100, Fresno City College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $37,361 — 31% below average — while paying $8,069/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 24% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 2 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 $4,058 is manageable at just 11% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Fresno City College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Fresno City College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #47 of 62 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 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #3 | Santa Monica College | 100 | $2,779 | $42,193 |
| #4 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #5 | St Petersburg College | 100 | $1,471 | $42,557 |
| #6 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #47 | Fresno City College | 27 | $8,069 | $37,361 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Fresno City College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 10 in CA.
Best Programs at Fresno City College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Fresno City 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 $8,069/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
- Fresno, CA
- Student Body
- 21,251 students
- Graduation Rate
- 24%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $8,069
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $37,361
- Median Student Debt
- $4,058