Private For-Profit Certificate Strong 78/100

Central California School of Continuing Education

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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San Luis Obispo, California

About Central California School of Continuing Education

Thinking about Central California School of Continuing Education, a college in California where more students graduate in Health than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Central California School of Continuing Education is a private for-profit institution offering certificate degrees based in San Luis Obispo, California. It enrolls 41 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
71.5%
Net Price
$11,840
Median Earnings (10yr)
$41,223
Enrollment
41
Student : Faculty
12:1

Accreditor Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Academic Calendar Other Academic Year

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (2-Year), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
78/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 86
Value 48
Affordability 60
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Central California School of Continuing Education admits essentially everyone who qualifies, so plan around cost and completion instead of your odds of getting in.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $11,840 a year on average, it sits below what private for-profit colleges charge nationally. That still leaves most families a gap to cover, but a manageable one. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$11,840
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
56%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
56%
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
$9,895
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,210
Books & Supplies
$500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$835
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,463

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.

$2,621
10% percentile
$3,080
25% percentile
$5,150
Median percentile
$7,146
75% percentile
$12,000
90% 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
Dependent students $5,500 ↑ $350
Independent students $4,955 ↓ $195
Dependent students: 52.6% (2,709 students)Independent students: 47.4% (2,441 students)Overall Median$5,150
What this means: Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 56% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.

Graduation Rate & Retention

72% of students who start here finish within six years, and 75% come back after first year. Roughly half finish on that timeline, so budget for the possibility of a longer run. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
72%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $41,223 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,223
Earning > $25K
65%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$31,000$34,000$37,000$40,000$43,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$35,100

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$52,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $17,500, about 33% 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.

Declining: debt management worsening over time ↓ 13.6 pts across 6 years
65.6%1yr66.3%3yr51.1%5yr52%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 52% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 41 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Worth knowing: 59% are the first in their family to go to college.

Total Enrolled
41
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
59%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 68.3% 28
White 24.4% 10
Black 4.9% 2
Asian 2.4% 1
Hispanic: 68.3% (28 students)White: 24.4% (10 students)Black: 4.9% (2 students)Asian: 2.4% (1 students)Total41

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Central California School of Continuing Education. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Small City San Luis Obispo, California
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
75% of students are 25 or older
Academic Calendar
Other Academic Year scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Central California School of Continuing Education offers a focused set of programs: 3 distinct programs across 1 major. 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.

3 Programs

Faculty & Resources

There are 12 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.

Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member

Pros & Cons of Central California School of Continuing Education

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Central California School of Continuing Education is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Open admissions
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Above-average graduation rate
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Modest first-year retention
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Best for: Based on the data, Central California School of Continuing Education is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Central California School of Continuing Education

The questions families ask most about Central California School of Continuing Education, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Central California School of Continuing Education hard to get into?
Not especially. Central California School of Continuing Education admits most qualified applicants, and reports no competitive acceptance rate. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at Central California School of Continuing Education?
No acceptance rate is reported, which for a college like this normally means admission is open to anyone meeting the basic requirements. Confirm with the admissions office rather than assuming it.
How much does Central California School of Continuing Education cost?
Budget around $11,840 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central California School of Continuing Education worth it?
On the numbers, yes: solid return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $41,223 a year against a net price of $11,840, about 3.5 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central California School of Continuing Education known for?
Mostly Allied Health Diagnostic, Medical Assisting, Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Central California School of Continuing Education graduates earn?
About $41,223 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central California School of Continuing Education accredited?
Yes. Central California School of Continuing Education is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
How many students attend Central California School of Continuing Education?
41 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Central California School of Continuing Education?
72% finish within six years. That leaves a meaningful share who do not finish on that timeline, so budget for the possibility of a longer run. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Central California School of Continuing Education a public or private college?
It is Private For-Profit. Private for-profit, so compare completion and earnings carefully against a public alternative.
Where is Central California School of Continuing Education located?
Central California School of Continuing Education is located in San Luis Obispo, California.
What programs does Central California School of Continuing Education offer?
3 different programs, most commonly Allied Health Diagnostic, Medical Assisting, Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central California School of Continuing Education?
12 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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