Empire College

3035 Cleveland Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Top-Ranked (2026-27): View Rankings
  • 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 44:1.
Minority enrollment is 100% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 77%.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • 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
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Institution Level
Four or more years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Private for-profit
Public
Year Founded
1973
Total Faculty
59 staff
72 staff
Number of Programs Offered
20
9
School Calendar
School Motto
A CBE-Accredited Law School with a Commitment to Community Service.

Student Body

The student population of Empire College has declined by 69% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 1:1 has decreased from 6:1 over five years.
The Empire College diversity score of 0.66 is less than the state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has grown by 10% over five years.
Total Enrollment
73 students
6,838 students

Showing 2011–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio
1:1
44:1
# Full-Time Students
63 students
1,022 students

Showing 2011–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓

# Part-Time Students
10 students
5,816 students

Showing 2011–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓

# Enrollment Undergraduate
166 students
2,055 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
147 students
967 students

Showing 2010–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓

# Full-Time Graduate Students
63 students
96 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
3%
n/a
% Asian
3%
12%

Showing 2008–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
2%
46%

Showing 2010–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
38%
7%

Showing 2008–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
42%
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
5%
Diversity Score
0.66
0.71

Showing 2011–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓

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)
51%
43%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$33,000
$34,300

Tuition & Financial Aid

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
86%
85%

Showing 2012–2025. Full 19-year historical data available below ↓

Median Debt for Graduates
$13,655
$10,500

Showing 2008–2020. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Median Debt for Dropouts
$6,334
$6,272

Showing 2008–2020. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

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.

Recent Articles

Required Course Full? Avoid Community College Degree Delays
Required Course Full? Avoid Community College Degree Delays
Learn how a full required course can delay graduation, how to navigate waitlists, and how to find approved alternatives that protect your community college degree timeline and financial aid eligibility.
Catalog-Year Rules: Community College Graduation Requirements
Catalog-Year Rules: Community College Graduation Requirements
Understand how catalog years determine community college graduation requirements, how enrollment breaks and major changes affect eligibility, and what to verify before choosing courses or switching to a newer catalog.
What If Your Community College Program Closes?
What If Your Community College Program Closes?
Learn what happens when your community college discontinues your program before graduation, including teach-out options, credit transfers, financial aid implications, student protections, and practical steps to finish your degree successfully.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 73 students
  • Student-teacher ratio: 1:1
  • Minority enrollment: 100%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Quick Links