- Empire College, located in Santa Rosa, California, is just one hour north of the San Francisco Bay Area in the heart of the wine-growing region of Sonoma County. On January 4, 2000, Empire opened the doors of its new 55,000 sq. ft. campus, which also houses two Sonoma County Superior Courts, at 3035 Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa.
School Highlights
Empire College serves 73 students (86% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 1:1 is lower than the state community college average of 32:1.
Minority enrollment is 100% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 77%.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Enrollment: 73 students
- Student:teacher ratio: 1:1
- Minority enrollment: 100%
- Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Top Rankings
Empire College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:
Category
Attribute
Programs offered
School Overview
The teacher population of 59 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Empire College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Associate's Dominant
Institution Level
Four or more years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Private for-profit
Public
Year Founded
1961
Total Faculty
59 staff
315 staff
Number of Programs Offered
20
12
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of Empire College has declined by 80% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 1:1 has decreased from 4:1 over five years.
The Empire College diversity score of 0.66 is less than the state average of 0.70. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
73 students
9,796 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
1:1
32:1
# Full-Time Students
63 students
1,259 students
# Part-Time Students
10 students
8,537 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
285 students
242 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
147 students
1,250 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
63 students
63 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
19 students
8,299 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
10 students
10 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
121 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
3%
n/a
% Asian
3%
13%
% Hispanic
2%
47%
% Black
38%
7%
% White
n/a
23%
% Hawaiian
42%
1%
% Two or more races
12%
5%
% Non Resident races
n/a
1%
% Unknown races
n/a
3%
Diversity Score
0.66
0.70
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
79%
28%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
59%
43%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$33,000
$34,700
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
86%
85%
Median Debt for Graduates
$13,655
$10,500
Median Debt for Dropouts
$6,334
$6,239
Acceptance Rate
n/a
93%
Source: 2023 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators
School Notes
- Since it was founded in 1961, the School of Business has dedicated its resources to providing quality career education that gives graduates an advantage in the job market. Over the past five years, Empire graduates have been placed in over 1500 companies, earning a combined income of more than $200,000,000! For the past 33 years, Empire College School of Law has been providing a rigorous and quality evening Juris Doctor education for students wishing to pursue a career in the field of law. We are very proud of the accomplishments of our graduates including members of the judiciary in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and Merced Counties. The college offers total of 25 career training programs, including five Specialized Associate Degree programs in Accounting, Administrative Specialist, Computer/Information Technology, Medical Assistant, and Legal Assistant. In addition, Empire College works with rehabilitation specialists and injured workers to customize programs under California's Workers Compensation training voucher system. Information Technology, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing, Legal Assisting/Paralegal, Legal Secretary, Accounting Essentials, Computerized Business Skills, and Hospitality programs are offered in the evening. In addition, for those wanting a class on a particular software package, individual computer classes in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint) and more are offered at night. The School of Business is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). In addition, the college is both a Microsoft IT Academy and a Security Certified Program Training Partner.
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Alicia Cronbach - 2006 - Successful lawyer in Sonoma County, advocating for second-career professionals. -
- Jacqueline Rosario - 2014 - Active attorney focused on making a difference in her community. -
- Chris Van Nuys - 2019 - Operation Manager at LEMO USA, Inc and a bar exam success story. -
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are Empire College often compared to?
Empire Collegeis often viewed alongside schools like Santa Rosa Junior College by visitors of our site.
Who are famous alumni from Empire College?
Empire College famous alumni include: Alicia Cronbach - 2006 - Successful lawyer in Sonoma County, advocating for second-career professionals., Jacqueline Rosario - 2014 - Active attorney focused on making a difference in her community. and Chris Van Nuys - 2019 - Operation Manager at LEMO USA, Inc and a bar exam success story..
What is Empire College's ranking?
Empire College ranks among the top 20% of community college in California for: Average community college minority breakdown and Most Programs Offered.
Nearby Schools
The nearest community college to Empire College is Santa Rosa Junior College (1.1 miles away)
School
Location
Miles
Students
1501 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 527-4011
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 527-4011
1.1 miles
| 23,299 students
Napa Valley College
Public
2277 Napa-Vallejo Hwy
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 256-7000
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 256-7000
28.0 miles
| 6,216 students
Solano Community College
Public
4000 Suisun Valley Rd
Fairfield, CA 94534
(707) 864-7000
Fairfield, CA 94534
(707) 864-7000
36.6 miles
| 12,275 students
Contra Costa College
Public
2600 Mission Bell Dr
San Pablo, CA 94806
(510) 235-7800
San Pablo, CA 94806
(510) 235-7800
40.4 miles
| 9,415 students
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