Home / Worth-It Scores / California / Mendocino
Is Mendocino College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Mendocino, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Mendocino sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $40,243 helps, but median debt of $10,836 plus yearly net price of $8,330 creates a tighter path. For context, Mendocino's net price is about 7% above the typical 2-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 791 similar 2-year, public schools
This school
$8,081
/yrAverage school like this
$7,555
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $526 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $2,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$8,330
Median earnings 10 years out
$40,243
Median debt at graduation
$10,836
Graduation rate
28%
At Mendocino, a typical graduate carries about $10,836 in student debt and earns roughly $40,243 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $123 per month, or 4% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Mendocino is a two year school in Ukiah, 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.
2-year
Diablo Valley
Pleasant Hill, CA
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $8,312
2-year
Glendale Community
Glendale, CA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $8,365
2-year
Riverside City
Riverside, CA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $8,377
2-year
Fresno City
Fresno, CA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $8,069
2-year
American River
Sacramento, CA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $7,999
Common questions about Mendocino
The median net price at Mendocino is $8,330 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 →