Modesto Junior College
Modesto Junior College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Modesto Junior College at a Glance
Modesto Junior College (MJC) is a public community college in the College Area neighborhood of Modesto, California, United States. It is part of Yosemite Community College District along with Columbia College. MJC, and Columbia College, belong to the California Community College system along with 112 other public community colleges. The college has two campuses in Modesto. The East Campus is the original campus while the West Campus is the larger of the two. Courses are provided in general educa…
1921
105 years old
19,262
Identity
Is Modesto Junior College Worth It?
Modesto Junior College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $2,818/year net price and $42,368 median earnings, graduates earn 15.0× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 28% 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: Modesto Junior College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Modesto Junior College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 138 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 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Modesto Junior 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 Modesto Junior College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Modesto Junior 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 $2,818/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
- Modesto, CA
- Student Body
- 15,109 students
- Graduation Rate
- 28%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $2,818
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $42,368