West Los Angeles College
West Los Angeles College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
West Los Angeles College at a Glance
West Los Angeles College is a public community college in Culver City, Los Angeles County, California. It is part of the California Community Colleges System and the Los Angeles Community College District. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The school offers associate degrees including 18 vocational-oriented programs in addition to 25 transfer programs. The college awards more than 600 degrees and certificates annually in 39 fields.
1969
57 years old
9,859
Identity
Is West Los Angeles College Worth It?
At a value score of 24/100, West Los Angeles College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $38,537 — 28% below average — while paying $9,634/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — 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.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at West Los Angeles College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How West Los Angeles College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #127 of 157 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 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #3 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #4 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #5 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #6 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
| #127 | West Los Angeles College | 24 | $9,634 | $38,537 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of West Los Angeles College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 8 in CA.
Best Programs at West Los Angeles College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for West Los Angeles 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 $9,634/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
- Culver City, CA
- Student Body
- 7,284 students
- Graduation Rate
- 24%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,634
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $38,537