Palo Verde College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Blythe, California. It enrolls 3,381 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.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
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.
Fair
46/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes24
Value26
Affordability16
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Palo Verde 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 $18,993 a year on average, it sits below what public colleges charge nationally. That still leaves most families a gap to cover, but a manageable one. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,288
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,880
Room & Board (off-campus)
$25,767
Books & Supplies
$2,178
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,085
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,212
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
$18,723
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,625
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,212
What this means:
12% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
8% of students who start here finish within six years, and 61% come back after first year. Most students who start here do not finish. That is the single most important number on this page. 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
8%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
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
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $36,389 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)
$36,389
Earning > $25K
59%
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
$28,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$35,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,700, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$1.9 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 3,381 students, a mid-sized community. Worth knowing: 64% are the first in their family to go to college, and 81% study part-time, so many are working alongside classes.
Total Enrolled
3,381
Part-Time
81%
First-Generation
64%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 47.8%1,616
White 25.3%855
Black 11.6%392
Other 6.5%221
Asian 3.9%131
International 0.1%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Palo Verde College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Palo Verde College offers
a varied set of programs:
18 distinct programs across
12 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.
There are 22 students for every instructor here: on the higher side, so larger classes are common.
Student : Faculty
22:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,130
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.7M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$98,725
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
36 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
36
100%
$98,725
Pros & Cons of Palo Verde College
No college is right for everyone. Here is where Palo Verde College is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
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, Palo Verde College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Palo Verde College
The questions families ask most about Palo Verde College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is Palo Verde College hard to get into?
Not especially. Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde College cost?
Budget around $18,993 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 Palo Verde College worth it?
On the numbers, yes: moderate return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $36,389 a year against a net price of $18,993, about 1.9 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 Palo Verde College known for?
Mostly Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. 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 Palo Verde College graduates earn?
About $36,389 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 Palo Verde College accredited?
Yes. Palo Verde College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Palo Verde College?
3,381 students. Big enough for a wide course catalogue without feeling anonymous. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Palo Verde College?
8% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Palo Verde College a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Palo Verde College located?
Palo Verde College is located in Blythe, California.
What programs does Palo Verde College offer?
18 different programs, most commonly Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. 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 Palo Verde College?
22 students per instructor. On the high side, so expect big classes and to seek out contact time yourself. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
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.
Liberal Arts
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Business Administration
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