Contra Costa College

2600 Mission Bell Dr
San Pablo, CA 94806
Top Ranked (2023-24): View Rankings
  • Contra Costa Community College District was established on December 14, 1948, with boundaries nearly identical to those of Contra Costa County. There are three colleges in the district: Contra Costa College (San Pablo), Los Medanos College (Pittsburgh), and Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill), which also operates the Center for Higher Education (San Ramon).

School Highlights

Contra Costa College serves 6,249 students (23% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 21:1 is lower than the state community college average of 22:1.
Minority enrollment is 91% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 74%.

Quick Stats (2023-24)

  • Enrollment: 6,249 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,298
  • Out-state tuition: $7,038
  • Student:teacher ratio: 21:1
  • Minority enrollment: 91%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Contra Costa College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

School Overview

The teacher population of 294 teachers has grown by 73% over five years.
Contra Costa College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
294 staff
308 staff
This chart display total faculty of Contra Costa College and community college average number of faculty in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Contra Costa College has declined by 7% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 21:1 has decreased from 24:1 over five years.
The Contra Costa College diversity score of 0.72 is more than the state average of 0.70. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
6,249 students
7,899 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Contra Costa College and community college average number of enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
21:1
22:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Contra Costa College and community college average student staff ratio of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
1,409 students
1,660 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Contra Costa College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
4,840 students
6,239 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Contra Costa College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart display the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Contra Costa College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of CA.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
406 students
302 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
1,409 students
1,580 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Contra Costa College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
54 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
4,840 students
6,239 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
10 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Contra Costa College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.
% Asian
22%
14%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Contra Costa College and the percentage of Asian community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
44%
45%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Contra Costa College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
17%
5%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Contra Costa College and the percentage of Black community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
9%
26%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Contra Costa College and the percentage of White community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
This chart display the percentage of Hawaiian students in Contra Costa College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2012-13 school year data.
% Two or more races
6%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Contra Costa College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
2%
3%
This chart display the percentage of Non Resident students in Contra Costa College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
1%
3%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Contra Costa College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in CA.
Diversity Score
0.72
0.70
This chart display the diversity score of Contra Costa College and the community college average diversity score of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
21%
35%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Contra Costa College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
1.92%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$36,300
$34,700
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Contra Costa College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of CA by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $1,298 is more than the state average of $1,246. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $7,038 is more than the state average of $6,603. The out-state tuition has declined by 16% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,298
$1,246
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Contra Costa College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$7,038
$6,603
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Contra Costa College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
78%
86%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Contra Costa College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$7,799
$9,500
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Contra Costa College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2013-14 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,204
$6,239
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Contra Costa College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
89%
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • The Center for Science Excellence is a special scholarship program in the Science Division at Contra Costa College that began due to a generous grant by the Army Research Office in the Department of Defense. The overall goal of the Center is to increase the number of underrepresented graduates in the physical and biological sciences, mathematics and engineering. The mission of the CCC Foundation is to perpetuate financial assets through a variety of fundraising activities in order to offer financial assistance to the college's scholarship,educational, and training programs. Since 1982 the College For Kids program at Contra Costa College has been offering educational enrichment classes during the summer for students entering grades 2 through 12. Class offerings include English, Math, Culinary Arts, Journalism, Computers, Science, Art, Drama, and Dance. Each class is taught by a qualified instructor assisted by an Instructional Aide. The Contra Costa College Skills Center web site is a useful resource for students, faculty, and staff at the college. The new machines are great internet computers and they host Skills Bank and a large collection of other computer-aided instruction programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Contra Costa College cost?
Contra Costa College's tuition is approximately $1,298 for In-State students and $7,038 for Out-State students.
What is Contra Costa College's ranking?
Contra Costa College ranks among the top 20% of community college in California for: Average community college minority breakdown and Least debt for graduating students.

Recent Articles

How to Take Online Community College Classes for Free
How to Take Online Community College Classes for Free
Learn about programs across the country that allow students to take online community college classes for free.
A Nontraditional Student’s Guide to Community College
A Nontraditional Student’s Guide to Community College
Going to college is hard work but it’s even more challenging for nontraditional students who are working or raising a family at the same time. If you’re considering community college to improve your life or further your career, here’s everything you need to know.
Beyond the High School Classroom: The Pros and Cons of Dual Enrollment
Beyond the High School Classroom: The Pros and Cons of Dual Enrollment
Explore the intricacies of dual enrollment, a growing educational trend that allows high school students to earn college credits. This comprehensive guide delves into its history, eligibility requirements, benefits, and drawbacks, offering valuable insights for both parents and students considering this path.

Quick Stats (2023-24)

  • Enrollment: 6,249 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,298
  • Out-state tuition: $7,038
  • Student:teacher ratio: 21:1
  • Minority enrollment: 91%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Quick Links