Lake Tahoe Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in South Lake Tahoe, California. It enrolls 3,660 students (a mid-sized 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 (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.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes29
Value59
Affordability33
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Lake Tahoe Community 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 Lake Tahoe Community 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 $8,516 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,516
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
13%
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)
$1,131
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,103
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,425
Room & Board (off-campus)
$23,250
Books & Supplies
$4,095
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$9,300
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$9,300
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,666
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
$8,025
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,109
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,140
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,861
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
Female students $4,000
—
Male students $5,500
—
What this means:
13% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
9% of full-time students who enrolled at Lake Tahoe Community College graduate within six years, and 50% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
9%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
50%
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 Lake Tahoe Community College earn a median of $36,657 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,657
Earning > $25K
56%
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
$31,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$31,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.3 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Lake Tahoe Community College is home to 3,660 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students, 80% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,660
Part-Time
80%
First-Generation
47%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 40.3%1,474
Hispanic 30.1%1,103
Asian 6.2%227
Black 5.1%187
Other 3.7%137
International 0.5%18
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lake Tahoe Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeSouth Lake Tahoe, California
Housing
Limited on-campus housing30 beds
Adult Learners
61%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Lake Tahoe Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
39 distinct programs across
20 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 Lake Tahoe Community College is 22:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
22:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$2,735
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.4M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$86,524
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
33 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
33
100%
$86,524
Pros & Cons of Lake Tahoe Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lake Tahoe Community 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
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
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Lake Tahoe Community 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 Lake Tahoe Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lake Tahoe Community College.
Is Lake Tahoe Community College hard to get into?
Lake Tahoe Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Lake Tahoe Community College?
Lake Tahoe Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Lake Tahoe Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Lake Tahoe Community College is $8,516 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lake Tahoe Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,657 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,516 per year. That's roughly 4.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lake Tahoe Community College known for?
Lake Tahoe Community College is best known for its programs in Social Sciences, Sociology, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lake Tahoe Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lake Tahoe Community College are $36,657, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lake Tahoe Community College accredited?
Yes. Lake Tahoe Community College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Lake Tahoe Community College?
Lake Tahoe Community College enrolls 3,660 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lake Tahoe Community College?
Lake Tahoe Community College graduates 9% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lake Tahoe Community College a public or private college?
Lake Tahoe Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Lake Tahoe Community College located?
Lake Tahoe Community College is located in South Lake Tahoe, California.
What programs does Lake Tahoe Community College offer?
Lake Tahoe Community College offers 39 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Sciences, Sociology, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Tahoe Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Tahoe Community College is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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