Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Santa Ana College at a Glance
Santa Ana College is a public community college in Santa Ana, California, United States.
1915
111 years old
37,916
48 acres
Identity
Is Santa Ana College Worth It?
Santa Ana College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $3,133/year net price and $43,552 median earnings, graduates earn 13.9× 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 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.
Median student debt of $6,871 is manageable at just 16% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Santa Ana College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Santa Ana College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 101 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 | Santa Ana College | 100 | $3,133 | $43,552 |
| #2 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #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 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 100 | $4,831 | $49,620 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Santa Ana 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 $3,133/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
- Santa Ana, CA
- Student Body
- 22,485 students
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,133
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $43,552
- Median Student Debt
- $6,871