Public Associate Good 62/100

Madera Community College

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

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Madera, California

About Madera Community College

Thinking about Madera Community College, a college in California where more students graduate in Liberal Arts 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.

Madera Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Madera, California. It enrolls 4,808 students (a mid-sized 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
—
Net Price
$4,179
Median Earnings (10yr)
—
Enrollment
4,808
Student : Faculty
26:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

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.

Good
62/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 42
Value —
Affordability 51
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Madera Community College 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 $4,179 a year on average, it sits well below what public colleges charge nationally. At that level cost is rarely the reason to rule a college out. 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
$4,179
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
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)
$1,378
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,638
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,982
Books & Supplies
$1,980
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,506
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,639

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
    $4,071
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $2,876
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $4,991
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $10,470
What this means: 20% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.

Graduation Rate & Retention

68% come back after first year. A sizeable share do not return for year two. Worth asking why. 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
—
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 4,808 students, a mid-sized community. Worth knowing: 84% study part-time, so many are working alongside classes.

Total Enrolled
4,808
Part-Time
84%
First-Generation
—

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 69.9% 3,360
White 15.5% 743
Asian 8.0% 385
Other 2.9% 141
Black 2.5% 122
Hispanic: 69.9% (3,360 students)White: 15.5% (743 students)Asian: 8.0% (385 students)Other: 2.9% (141 students)Black: 2.5% (122 students)Total4,808

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Madera Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Rural: Fringe Madera, California
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
29% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Biology graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Madera Community College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 42 distinct programs across 24 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.

2 Programs
1 Program
6 Programs
6 Programs

Faculty & Resources

There are 26 students for every instructor here: high, so expect big lectures and to work harder for one-to-one time.

Student : Faculty
26:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,395
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$200,130
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$103,135
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

83 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 83 100% $103,135

Pros & Cons of Madera Community College

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Madera Community College 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
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Madera 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 Madera Community College

The questions families ask most about Madera Community College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Madera Community College hard to get into?
Not especially. Madera Community College 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 Madera Community College?
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 Madera Community College cost?
Budget around $4,179 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.
What is Madera Community College known for?
Mostly Liberal Arts, Biology, Liberal Arts. 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.
Is Madera Community College accredited?
Yes. Madera Community College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Madera Community College?
4,808 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Madera Community College a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Madera Community College located?
Madera Community College is located in Madera, California.
What programs does Madera Community College offer?
42 different programs, most commonly Liberal Arts, Biology, Liberal Arts. 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 Madera Community College?
26 students per instructor. On the high side, so expect big classes and to seek out contact time yourself. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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