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Is Coalinga College worth it?

A first pass affordability and outcome read for Coalinga, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.

Worth-It Score

49/100

Heavy lift

Coalinga lands in the heavy lift band for a typical family. The combination of $10,477 in yearly net price and $6,750 in median debt asks a lot relative to median earnings of $37,633. For context, Coalinga's net price runs about 35% above the typical 2-year, public school. This does not make the school wrong for every student, but it does mean the price deserves a closer test.

Is the price fair?

Compared to 791 similar 2-year, public schools

35% above average

This school

$10,231

/yr

Average school like this

$7,555

/yr
Lowest costAverageHighest cost
$4,410$13,746

This weighs on your Worth-It Score

You'd pay about $2,676 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $11,000 in extra cost.

Score breakdown

The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.

Affordability

40% weight

100/100

The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.

Outcome

40% weight

3/100

The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.

Repayment

20% weight

100/100

Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.

The numbers behind the score

Median net price per year

$10,477

Median earnings 10 years out

$37,633

Median debt at graduation

$6,750

Graduation rate

43%

At Coalinga, a typical graduate carries about $6,750 in student debt and earns roughly $37,633 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $77 per month, or 2% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.

How earnings compare to a high school diploma

Graduates earn $4,167 less than the typical high school graduate ($41,800) ten years after entering this school. A federal rule finalized in July 2026 ties undergraduate student-loan eligibility to a comparison like this one, with the first calculations expected in 2027.

60% of former students here out-earned that benchmark ten years after entry, per College Scorecard.

Context, not a federal determination: the official test will use earnings measured four years after completion and thresholds the Department of Education has not yet published, which may vary by state. Our figure is College Scorecard median earnings ten years after entry. How this works

What this means for your family

Coalinga is a two year school in Coalinga, CA. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.

Similar schools worth comparing

These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.

Common questions about Coalinga

The median net price at Coalinga is $10,477 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.

Get your personalized Worth-It score

National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.

Looking at community colleges options in California? See the most affordable community colleges in California

The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →

Now work out how to pay for it, cheapest money first.

A Worth-It Score tells you whether the price is justified. The 2026-27 funding guide covers the borrowing order, what changed on July 1, 2026, and the current limits.

Open the 2026-27 funding guide →