Shasta College
Shasta College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Shasta College at a Glance
Shasta College is a public community college in Redding, California, with branch campuses in Burney, Weaverville, and Red Bluff. It was founded in 1950 and later moved to a much larger campus while the original campus became the new location of Shasta High School.
1950
76 years old
10,090
Identity
Is Shasta College Worth It?
Shasta College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $2,878/year net price and $39,269 median earnings, graduates earn 13.6× 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 26% 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: Shasta College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Shasta College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #8 of 183 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 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | Texas A & M International University | 100 | $3,637 | $48,386 |
| #4 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #5 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #6 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #8 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Shasta College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in CA.
Best Programs at Shasta College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Shasta 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 $2,878/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
- Redding, CA
- Student Body
- 6,128 students
- Graduation Rate
- 26%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $2,878
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $39,269
- Median Student Debt
- $14,250