Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education
This year at Palo Alto College, we project that on average students will pay $5,568, while the advertised price of attendance is $24,722. That’s a difference of $19,154.
| Year | Net in-state price at Palo Alto College | In-state sticker price at Palo Alto College | Out-of-state sticker price at Palo Alto College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-26 | $5,568 | $24,722 | $32,718 |
| 24-25 | $5,494 | $24,391 | $32,151 |
| 23-24 | $5,420 | $24,064 | $31,594 |
| 22-23 | $4,848 | $21,524 | $29,054 |
| 21-22 | $5,218 | $21,212 | $28,742 |
| 20-21 | $4,951 | $21,148 | $28,678 |
| 19-20 | $5,813 | $21,750 | $29,280 |
| 18-19 | $5,043 | $20,830 | $28,360 |
| 17-18 | $3,897 | $20,802 | $27,402 |
| 16-17 | $6,795 | $21,698 | $27,148 |
| 15-16 | $6,481 | $21,400 | $26,590 |
| 14-15 | $6,446 | $21,087 | $26,277 |
| 13-14 | $5,604 | $20,746 | $26,068 |
How much a student actually pays usually depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. At Palo Alto College this year, we project students with incomes over $110K will pay around $11,146, while students with incomes below $30K will pay around $4,301. That's a difference of $6,844.
| Income bracket | Projected net price at Palo Alto College |
|---|---|
| <$30K | $4,301 |
| $30K-$48K | $5,285 |
| $48K-$75K | $6,751 |
| $75K-$110K | $7,250 |
| >$110K | $11,146 |
A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At Palo Alto College, over the last five years 30% of students earned their associate’s degree within four years of enrolling.
Students from different demographic backgrounds often graduate at different rates, so it can be helpful to look beyond the overall graduation rate. This chart shows how students of different races and ethnicities fare earning their degrees at Palo Alto College.
| Demographic category | Graduation rate at Palo Alto College | National average |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 17% | 24% |
| Asian | 40% | 38% |
| Black | 30% | 26% |
| Hispanic | 30% | 34% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 100% | 21% |
| White | 27% | 41% |
| Multiple races | 40% | 29% |
| Unknown race | 17% | 29% |
Student retention, or how often students return to continue their degree after completing their first year, is another helpful indicator. Over the last five years, at Palo Alto College, about 54% of full-time students returned the following fall to continue their degree.
The size and demographic makeup of a school’s student body can have a large impact on a student’s experience. Palo Alto College has 16,963 students, which puts it in the {SIZE_PERCENTILE} percentile of public, 2-year schools.
About 61% of students are female.
And about 74% of students are hispanic.