Pasadena City College

Pasadena City College is a public institution located in Pasadena, California, with an enrollment of approximately 21,466 students. The college offers programs across a range of fields; one program of particular relevance to career-focused learners is library science.

For California residents, tuition is $1,180 per year, while out-of-state students pay $9,820 per year. The average annual net price — the total estimated cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, after grant and scholarship aid is applied — is $3,864. This figure represents what students pay on average once aid is factored in, and it can differ significantly from published tuition depending on a student's financial circumstances. About 31.1% of students receive Pell Grants, a federal aid program available to students with demonstrated financial need.

Very few students at Pasadena City College borrow federal student loans — only 0.9% of all enrolled students take on federal loan debt. Among those who did borrow and completed a credential, the median federal loan debt was $6,651. Of borrowers entering repayment, 38.4% had a balance that was actively going down within three years — meaning a majority of borrowers were not yet reducing their principal, which may reflect income-driven repayment plans, deferment, or other factors.

Median earnings for students who enrolled at Pasadena City College stand at $43,937 per year, measured approximately ten years after initial enrollment. This figure covers all federally aided students who enrolled — including those who did not complete a credential — so it reflects a broad range of outcomes rather than the earnings of graduates alone.