Palo Alto College

Student body

Graduate gender splits aren't published in this data, so the gender chart covers undergraduates only.

By the numbers

Undergraduate enrollment

8,801

Student–faculty ratio

31 : 1

Pell Grant recipients

27%

First-generation students

64%

Students over 25

22%

Median family income

$22,304

Avg faculty salary (academic year)

$70,677

Colleges don't publish true class-size data; student–faculty ratio (IPEDS) is the closest public measure of it.

Cost

In-state tuition

$3,412

Out-of-state tuition

$9,952

Room & board

—

Books & supplies

$500

Total cost of attendance

$11,946

Average net price

$4,463

Net price is the total cost minus grants and scholarships — what students actually pay. It varies sharply by family income; see the breakdown below.

Outcomes

Graduated

33%

First-year retention

—

Transferred to another college

12%

Median earnings, 6 years after entry

$33,233

Median earnings, 10 years after entry

$37,448

Median debt at graduation

$13,393

Students with federal loans

2%

Paying down their loans (1 year in)

29%

Graduating on time

By student background (4 years)

When these bars run close together, students from every background tend to finish at similar rates — a sign the school supports the ~30% who are first-gen or low-income.

Campus life & athletics

On-campus housing

No

Application fee

Free

Housing and fees: IPEDS 2023–24. Athletics rosters: Equity in Athletics data, 2024–25. Dorm capacity can include graduate and family housing, so the share of undergrads can top 100%.

Campus safety

Safety grade

A

Reported offenses per 1,000 students

0.1 / year

Violent offenses (2022–2024)

2

Property offenses (2022–2024)

3

On-campus criminal offenses reported under the Clery Act, 2022–2024, across 1 campus (12,395 students). Counts reflect reports, not convictions — schools with strong reporting cultures often show more, so a higher count doesn't simply mean a more dangerous campus.

Reported offenses in an average year

The same 2022–2024 Clery Act reports, divided down to one year.

Averages, not a forecast — a single year can run well above or below this. Bars are scaled against this campus's most-reported offense, so they compare types here rather than against other schools.

What you'll actually pay, by family income

Average net price (total cost minus grants and scholarships) paid by aided students in each family-income band.

College Scorecard / IPEDS, most recent year. Family income is total household income; net price covers tuition, fees, room, board and supplies after grant aid, for students receiving federal aid.