Butte College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Oroville, California. It enrolls 8,890 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
76/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes53
Value86
Affordability64
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Butte College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Butte College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,520 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,520
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
3%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,356
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,276
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,894
Books & Supplies
$1,270
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,916
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,509
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$4,944
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,206
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,503
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,570
Over $110,000
$13,051
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,00010%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$10,500Medianpercentile
$13,81575%percentile
$24,11690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $8,812
↓ $1,688
No Pell $5,500
↓ $5,000
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,000
Independent students $9,500
↓ $1,000
Female students $9,318
↓ $1,182
Male students $6,500
↓ $4,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,125, less than completers ($10,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
4% of full-time students who enrolled at Butte College graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
4%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Butte College earn a median of $41,810 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,810
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$32,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$54,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,100, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
4.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 64% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Butte College is home to 8,890 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 44% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
8,890
Part-Time
44%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 46.4%4,123
Hispanic 35.1%3,117
Other 8.5%752
Asian 5.4%481
Black 2.8%245
International 0.9%82
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Butte College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantOroville, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
28%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Butte College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
76 distinct programs across
30 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Butte College is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,398
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$5.9M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$104,457
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
201 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
201
100%
$104,457
Pros & Cons of Butte College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Butte College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Butte College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Butte College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Butte College.
Is Butte College hard to get into?
Butte College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Butte College?
Butte College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Butte College cost?
The average net price after aid at Butte College is $5,520 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Butte College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,810 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,520 per year. That's roughly 7.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Butte College known for?
Butte College is best known for its programs in Social Sciences, Criminal Justice, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Butte College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Butte College are $41,810, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Butte College accredited?
Yes. Butte College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Butte College?
Butte College enrolls 8,890 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Butte College?
Butte College graduates 4% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Butte College a public or private college?
Butte College is a Public institution.
Where is Butte College located?
Butte College is located in Oroville, California.
What programs does Butte College offer?
Butte College offers 76 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Sciences, Criminal Justice, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Butte College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Butte College is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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