Solano Community College
Solano Community College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Solano Community College at a Glance
Solano Community College (SCC) is a public community college in Fairfield, California, with additional centers in Vacaville and Vallejo. The college is part of California Community Colleges System. SCC's service area includes all of Solano County, and the town of Winters in Yolo County. It has 10,814 students.
1945
81 years old
10,814
Identity
Is Solano Community College Worth It?
Solano Community College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $4,669/year net price and $44,170 median earnings, graduates earn 9.5× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 35% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 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: Solano Community College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Solano Community College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #10 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 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #2 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #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 |
| #10 | Solano Community College | 83 | $4,669 | $44,170 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Solano Community College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 9 in CA.
Best Programs at Solano Community College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Solano Community 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 $4,669/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
- Fairfield, CA
- Student Body
- 8,061 students
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,669
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $44,170
- Median Student Debt
- $12,000