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Community College Open Admission Pasadena, CA CCCAA

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, CA

$13,677/yr
Est. Cost of Attendance
$3,864/yr
Avg Price After Aid
44.3%
3-yr Grad Rate
21,466
Undergrads

About Pasadena City College

Pasadena City College is a public institution located in Pasadena, California, a midsize city. The college enrolls approximately 21,466 undergraduates and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 23:1.

Type
Community College
Undergrads
21,466
Avg Faculty Salary
$87,739
Athletics
CCCAA
Endowment
$24.8M
Pell Students
31.1%
First-Gen
56.4%
What Pasadena City College Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Engineering Technologies/Technicians 318 graduates · 4.4% of degrees here vs 0.12% nationally 36×
Health Services/Allied Health/Health... 769 graduates · 10.6% of degrees here vs 1.07% nationally 10×
Economics 287 graduates · 3.9% of degrees here vs 0.44% nationally
Humanities/Humanistic Studies 908 graduates · 12.5% of degrees here vs 2.02% nationally
Biological and Physical Sciences 1,021 graduates · 14% of degrees here vs 2.34% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
Open
admission
Qualified applicants are admitted
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$3,864 avg net
Average net price after aid
$3,051
Under $30K income
$24.8M
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$32,759 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
44.3%
3-yr Grad Rate
$6,651
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Pasadena City College Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Student:Faculty Ratio
23:1
Undergrad instruction

Pasadena City College has an open admissions policy, accepting all applicants who meet basic requirements. This approach means admission decisions do not reflect academic selectivity or competitiveness.

10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

Pasadena City College Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$3,864
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$6,651
Federal Loan Rate
0.9%
Students borrowing federal loans

Pasadena City College has a cost of attendance of $13,677, but the average net price is $3,864, meaning students typically pay significantly less than the sticker price.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$13,677
In-state Tuition & Fees
$1,180
9%
Books & Supplies
$938
7%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$3,051
$30,001 – $48,000
$2,631
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,003
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,136
Over $110,000
$11,261

* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.

Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
3%
Federal loans
1%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $71.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Pasadena City College costs $3,864 a year — about 52% less than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$13,677
Similar colleges (649)
$15,244
CA (253)
$22,850
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (124)
$28,033
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
3.3%
Similar colleges (552)
43.6%
CA (409)
84.4%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (202)
86.6%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$6,651
Similar colleges (530)
$10,500
CA (416)
$10,750
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (212)
$12,419
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$3,864
Similar colleges (650)
$8,062
CA (503)
$20,807
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (257)
$21,840
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Pasadena City College Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

3-yr Grad Rate
44.3%
Median Earnings 6yr
$32,759
6 years after entering

Pasadena City College graduates earn a median of $32,759 six years after entry and $43,937 ten years after entry. The three-year loan repayment rate is 38.4%.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$34,993
Men
$31,454
Women

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies1,208
Biological and Physical Sciences1,021
Business Administration and Management,...963
Humanities/Humanistic Studies908
Health Services/Allied Health/Health...769
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General318
Psychology, General297
Economics, General287
Mathematics, General119
Education/Teaching of Individuals in...116
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Pasadena City College are $37,317, and 47% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Pasadena City College students earn $32,759 — 5% less than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$43,937
Similar colleges (637)
$40,318
CA (462)
$41,247
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (239)
$41,472
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$32,759
Similar colleges (645)
$34,493
CA (488)
$36,007
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (250)
$35,608
National (4,847)
$35,433

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Pasadena City College Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Pasadena City College is a public institution located in Pasadena, California, serving 21,466 undergraduates with a student-to-faculty ratio of 23:1. The student body includes 56.4% first-generation students and 54.0% women, with 31.1% receiving Pell grants.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
15.7%
Asian
23.2%
Hispanic
47.6%
Black
3.8%
Other Indicators
First-generation
56.4%
Pell grant recipients
31.1%
Women
54%
Pasadena City College Athletics
Total Revenue
$1.5M
Total Expense
$1.4M
Athletes
297
191 men · 106 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$92,374
Women's sports
$75,123

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Academic Resources
435
Full-time faculty
$87,739
Avg faculty salary
4,071
FT staff
$24.8M
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$88,111
Women (avg)
$87,473
Overall avg
$87,739
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
3.1%

269 of 8,640 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
25.9%
Undergrads taking any
55.8%

6,107 of 23,592 undergraduates study entirely at a distance.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Pasadena City College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median
Pell grant share
This school
31.1%
Similar colleges (652)
29.5%
CA (541)
43.5%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (276)
48.4%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$3,496
Similar colleges (533)
$3,408
CA (193)
$6,054
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (96)
$5,525
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
23:1
Similar colleges (653)
18:1
CA (559)
19:1
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (285)
19:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Pasadena City College
87 fields of study, associate degree level, grouped by subject area
7,282 graduates
Liberal Arts and General Studies 2,116 grads · 2 majors
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 1,208
Humanities/Humanistic Studies 908
Multidisciplinary Studies 1,021 grads · 1 major
Biological and Physical Sciences 1,021
Business and Marketing 1,009 grads · 9 majors
Business Administration and Management,... 963
Accounting Technology/Technician and... 12
Administrative Assistant and Secretarial... 7
Small Business Administration/Management 7
Hospitality Administration/Management,... 6
Office Management and Supervision 5
Banking and Financial Support Services 3
International Business/Trade/Commerce 3
Sales, Distribution, and Marketing... 3
Health Professions 912 grads · 9 majors
Health Services/Allied Health/Health... 769
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 80
Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language... 29
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 13
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer 11
Dental Assisting/Assistant 4
Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician 2
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 2
Medical/Clinical Assistant 2
Social Sciences 414 grads · 5 majors
Economics, General 287
Sociology, General 81
Political Science and Government, General 35
Anthropology, General 6
Geography 5
Engineering Technologies 321 grads · 3 majors
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General 318
Energy Systems Technology/Technician 2
Drafting and Design... 1
Psychology 297 grads · 1 major
Psychology, General 297
Visual and Performing Arts 167 grads · 8 majors
Art/Art Studies, General 100
Visual and Performing Arts, General 26
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 15
Music, General 14
Game and Interactive Media Design 6
Graphic Design 3
Commercial and Advertising Art 2
Dance, General 1
Communication and Journalism 147 grads · 3 majors
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 80
Radio and Television 58
Journalism 9
Mathematics and Statistics 119 grads · 1 major
Mathematics, General 119
Education 116 grads · 1 major
Education/Teaching of Individuals in... 116
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 93 grads · 2 majors
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 91
Physical Fitness Technician 2
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 88 grads · 9 majors
Japanese Language and Literature 17
Spanish Language and Literature 17
Linguistics 14
Italian Language and Literature 13
Chinese Language and Literature 12
American Sign Language 4
French Language and Literature 4
Russian Language and Literature 4
German Language and Literature 3
Homeland Security and Protective Services 69 grads · 2 majors
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement... 65
Fire Prevention and Safety... 4
Family and Consumer Sciences 61 grads · 5 majors
Child Care Provider/Assistant 48
Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies,... 6
Apparel and Textiles, General 5
Adult Development and Aging 1
Child Care and Support Services Management 1
English Language and Literature 60 grads · 1 major
English Language and Literature, General 60
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 41 grads · 1 major
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 41
Legal Professions 41 grads · 2 majors
Legal Assistant/Paralegal 28
Legal Studies 13
Physical Sciences 37 grads · 2 majors
Physics, General 36
Geology/Earth Science, General 1
History 36 grads · 1 major
History, General 36
Computer and Information Sciences 22 grads · 3 majors
Computer Programming/Programmer, General 13
Computer Support Specialist 6
Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and... 3
Communications Technologies 18 grads · 4 majors
Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital... 7
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video... 5
Recording Arts Technology/Technician 4
Photographic and Film/Video... 2
Architecture 17 grads · 1 major
Architectural Technology/Technician 17
Mechanic and Repair Technologies 14 grads · 2 majors
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics... 9
Electrical/Electronics Equipment... 5
Philosophy and Religious Studies 12 grads · 1 major
Philosophy 12
Library Science 9 grads · 1 major
Library and Archives Assisting 9
Engineering 9 grads · 1 major
Pre-Engineering 9
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 8 grads · 2 majors
Women's Studies 6
Area Studies, Other 2
Personal and Culinary Services 4 grads · 2 majors
Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General 3
Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General 1
Construction Trades 3 grads · 1 major
Building/Home/Construction... 3
Agriculture 1 grads · 1 major
Crop Production 1
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Pasadena City College Location & Campus Safety

Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA, in what IPEDS classifies as a midsize city setting. The campus sits about 1.6 miles from the center of Pasadena.

Pasadena City College Other colleges within 30 miles
Midsize city
Campus Setting
1.6 mi
To City Center
136,462
Pasadena Population
Living in Pasadena
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$2,218
Median Rent / mo
$103,778
Median Household Income
30.4%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
58.7%
Walk
4.7%
Public transit
4.1%

Los Angeles County scores 13.5 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 5.4% of Pasadena's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near Pasadena City College
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
Glendale Community College 10,509 students 6.5 mi
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, Pasadena City College to each campus

Campus Safety at Pasadena City College

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Pasadena City College reported for 2024.

23
On-Campus Offenses
0
In Residence Halls
0.9
Per 1,000 Students
2
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
11
2023
11
2024
23
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Motor vehicle theft
17
Burglary
3
Sexual offenses
2
Aggravated assault
1

Separately, Pasadena City College reported 7 arrests and 1 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pasadena City College admissions, costs, and outcomes.