Know the numbers
before you start in Los Angeles
You're deciding whether to spend your first two years at Los Angeles City College before finishing a bachelor's elsewhere. That means weighing transfer rates, earnings after graduation, net cost, and which programs operate at real scale.
~15,000 undergrads, 23% transfer out by year 8, median $36k 10-yr earnings, $12,750 median debt.
A mid-size LA community college with a functional transfer track record
Los Angeles City College enrolls nearly 15,000 undergrads — 79% part-time — in the heart of Los Angeles. Twenty-three percent transfer to a four-year institution within eight years, a solid result for a college where most students balance work and life alongside coursework. Liberal Arts leads completions at 1,068, with Health Sciences and Biological and Physical Sciences adding meaningful volume. Median earnings sit at $36k ten years out, and median debt is $12,750. In-state tuition is $1,196 but net price rises to $10,261 — higher than many California community colleges — making financial planning important for students here.
Los Angeles City College sits in East Hollywood and enrolls nearly 15,000 undergraduates, with 79% attending part-time — one of the highest part-time shares among California community colleges. That reality shapes everything: many students here are working adults or caregivers moving through coursework on extended timelines. The college's largest program is Liberal Arts and Sciences, producing 1,068 completions annually, followed by Health Sciences at 312 and Biological and Physical Sciences at 219. Cinematography and Film/Video Production stands out with 98 completions — a program with obvious relevance in the Los Angeles media economy. The eight-year transfer-out rate is 23%, a functional signal for a CC of this profile. Median earnings ten years out are $36k, median debt is $12,750, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition is $1,196, but the net price is $10,261 — notably higher than many peer California community colleges, so financial aid packaging matters here more than at some alternatives.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 1,068 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | 312 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | 219 |
| Humanities/Humanistic Studies. | 184 |
| Child Care Provider/Assistant. | 162 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 107 |
| Cinematography and Film/Video Production. | 98 |
| Psychology, General. | 94 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 72 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 54 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where California transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Los Angeles City College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- It can be, if you're cost-aware and transfer-focused from day one. LACC's eight-year transfer-out rate is 23%, a workable figure for a college where 79% of students attend part-time. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $36k, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. The concern is net price: despite low listed tuition of $1,196, the average net price is $10,261 — higher than many California community colleges. Median debt for borrowers is $12,750. That gap between sticker price and net price suggests financial aid coverage here is thinner than at some alternatives. Go in with a clear plan, verify your aid package early, and treat the transfer timeline as a real deadline.
- How does Los Angeles City College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- LACC's eight-year transfer-out rate is 23%. National research places the average community college transfer rate in the 15–25% range, so LACC sits within that band — toward the upper half. The 79% part-time enrollment rate is one of the highest in California, and part-time students typically take longer to complete transfer requirements, which compresses what's achievable within eight years. An additional 0.8% were still enrolled at the eight-year mark. The 26.5% eight-year completion rate reflects students earning a credential at LACC itself. Together, the numbers suggest LACC is functioning as a real transfer pipeline, not just an enrollment holding pattern, though the high part-time share means students who attend more than half-time will likely see better outcomes.
- What programs does Los Angeles City College offer at meaningful scale?
- LACC's highest-volume programs by completions are Liberal Arts and Sciences (1,068), Health Sciences (312), Biological and Physical Sciences (219), Humanities (184), and Child Care Provider/Assistant (162). Business Administration produced 107 completions, Cinematography and Film/Video Production 98, Psychology 94, Registered Nursing 72, and Business/Commerce 54. The Film/Video Production track is notable — 98 completions annually is real infrastructure in a city where that field has employment density. Health Sciences and Nursing together signal a developed allied health pathway. Liberal Arts at 1,068 completions provides the broadest transfer-prep base, useful for students undecided on a four-year major.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.