Pacific College is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Costa Mesa, California. It enrolls 225 students (a very small, intimate 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 Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarDiffers by Program
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 Selective). 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
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes60
Value37
Affordability27
Selectivity79
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 56%, Pacific College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
56%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Pacific College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
15.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Pacific 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 $29,363 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,363
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
Borrowing to attend
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,50025%percentile
$22,469Medianpercentile
$20,00075%percentile
$25,94990%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 $20,000
↓ $2,469
No Pell $25,469
↑ $3,000
Dependent students $15,386
↓ $7,083
Independent students $22,466
—
Female students $21,117
↓ $1,352
Male students $16,428
↓ $6,041
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($22,469), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
84% of full-time students who enrolled at Pacific College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
84%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
—
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pacific College earn a median of $70,064 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$70,064
Earning > $25K
84%
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
$48,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
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 56% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pacific College is home to 225 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 63% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
225
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
63%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 46.7%105
Asian 15.1%34
Black 14.7%33
White 11.6%26
Other 6.2%14
International 0.4%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pacific College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityCosta Mesa, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
86%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Differs by Programscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Pacific College offers
a focused set of programs:
6 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pacific College is 7:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
7:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,682
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
11 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
No Rank
11
100%
$67,682
Pros & Cons of Pacific College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pacific College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Strong six-year graduation rate
Above-average post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
For-profit institution, verify accreditation and outcomes carefully
Best for:
Based on the data, Pacific College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pacific College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pacific College.
Is Pacific College hard to get into?
Admissions at Pacific College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 56%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Pacific College?
Pacific College has an acceptance rate of 56%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Pacific College cost?
The average net price after aid at Pacific College is $29,363 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pacific College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $70,064 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,363 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pacific College known for?
Pacific College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Practical Nursing, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pacific College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pacific College are $70,064, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pacific College accredited?
Yes. Pacific College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Pacific College?
Pacific College enrolls 225 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pacific College?
Pacific College graduates 84% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pacific College a public or private college?
Pacific College is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Pacific College located?
Pacific College is located in Costa Mesa, California.
What programs does Pacific College offer?
Pacific College offers 6 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Practical Nursing, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pacific College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pacific College is 7:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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