Foothill College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Los Altos Hills, California. It enrolls 11,137 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 CalendarQuarter
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 (4-Year Open / Online). 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
83/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes81
Value88
Affordability41
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Foothill College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Foothill 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 $7,653 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,653
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
9%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
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)
$1,565
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,590
Room & Board (off-campus)
$20,793
Books & Supplies
$1,794
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,501
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,361
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
$6,571
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,390
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,389
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,193
Over $110,000
$14,237
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
$12,00075%percentile
$20,00090%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 $7,000
↓ $3,500
No Pell $5,500
↓ $5,000
Dependent students $4,901
↓ $5,599
Independent students $8,802
↓ $1,698
Female students $7,000
↓ $3,500
Male students $6,334
↓ $4,166
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, 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 Foothill College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
4%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
—
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 Foothill College earn a median of $57,072 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$57,072
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$52,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,200, about 20% 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 ↓
4.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Foothill College is home to 11,137 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students, 65% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
11,137
Part-Time
65%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 34.3%3,816
White 25.5%2,835
Asian 25.1%2,795
Other 6.5%726
International 4.0%441
Black 3.2%360
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Foothill College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbLos Altos Hills, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
41%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Foothill College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
61 distinct programs across
26 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 Foothill College is 22:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
22:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,127
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$12M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,685
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
167 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
167
100%
$106,685
Pros & Cons of Foothill College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Foothill College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Solid post-graduation earnings
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Foothill College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Foothill College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Foothill College.
How much does Foothill College cost?
The average net price after aid at Foothill College is $7,653 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Foothill College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,072 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,653 per year. That's roughly 7.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Foothill College known for?
Foothill College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Foothill College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Foothill College are $57,072, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Foothill College accredited?
Yes. Foothill College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Foothill College?
Foothill College enrolls 11,137 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Foothill College?
Foothill College graduates 4% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Foothill College a public or private college?
Foothill College is a Public institution.
Where is Foothill College located?
Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, California.
What programs does Foothill College offer?
Foothill College offers 61 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Foothill College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Foothill College is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
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Higher education data
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College enrollment
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Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Foothill College
Foothill College appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
Best Accounting Colleges in California
The top Accounting colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
90 UCD Score
138 Colleges
$32 Lowest Net
$138,687 Top Earn
Best Biology Colleges in California
The top Biology colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
174 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$128,566 Top Earn
Best Business Administration Colleges in California
The top Business Administration colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
216 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$92,446 Top Earn
Best Computer Science Colleges in California
The top Computer Science colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
128 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$138,687 Top Earn
Best Psychology Colleges in California
The top Psychology colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
187 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$90,768 Top Earn
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