Low cost, real outcomes
starting at Modesto Junior College
You're deciding whether to spend your first two years at Modesto Junior College before finishing a bachelor's elsewhere in California. That choice turns on real numbers: transfer rates, earnings, program depth, and what this CC actually costs you out of pocket.
18,258 undergrads, 23% transfer out by year 8, median $42k 10-yr earnings, $2,818 average net price.
Modesto's mid-size CC delivers a real transfer track record and rock-bottom cost
Modesto Junior College enrolls 18,258 undergraduates in California's Central Valley, with 23% transferring to a four-year institution within eight years — a solid result. Median earnings land at $42k ten years out, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition is $1,188 with a net price of just $2,818, making cost a genuine advantage. History and Language/Literature, Biological and Physical Sciences, and Psychology each produce 200-plus completions annually. With 67% of students attending part-time, timelines stretch, but the transfer-out rate still clears the national community college average.
Modesto Junior College sits in Modesto, California, and enrolls 18,258 undergraduates — a mid-size campus where 67% of students attend part-time. That part-time majority reflects the reality of many Central Valley students: work, family, and school compete for the same hours. The college's top programs by completions are History and Language/Literature (315) and Biological and Physical Sciences (311), followed by Psychology at 202 and Business Administration and Management at 142 — a mix that covers both transfer-prep and career-ready tracks. The eight-year transfer-out rate is 23%, above the low end of what most community colleges manage. Median earnings ten years out are $42k, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-state tuition is $1,188 annually, with an average net price of $2,818 — among the lowest entry costs you'll find anywhere in California. Median debt data is not available, but the near-zero net price and clean default record suggest MJC students are not accumulating heavy loads.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| History and Language/Literature. | 315 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | 311 |
| Psychology, General. | 202 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 142 |
| Child Care Provider/Assistant. | 137 |
| Medical/Clinical Assistant. | 94 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 92 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 92 |
| Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide. | 76 |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant. | 67 |
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 Modesto Junior College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The data offers a reasonable case for it. Twenty-three percent of MJC students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — a functional rate given that 67% of undergrads attend part-time, which naturally extends timelines. In-state tuition is $1,188 and the average net price is $2,818, so financial exposure at MJC is genuinely low. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are $42k, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. Median debt data is unavailable, which limits the full picture, but the low net price and clean default record suggest most students are not leaving with unmanageable balances. If you enter with a clear transfer goal, MJC's cost structure and transfer rate make it a defensible starting point.
- How does Modesto Junior College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- MJC's eight-year transfer-out rate is 23%. National research consistently places the average community college transfer rate in the 15–25% range, so MJC sits within that band, toward the upper half. The 23% figure is measured over eight years, and with 67% of students attending part-time — which extends typical completion timelines — the result reflects genuine transfer momentum rather than a distorted denominator. An additional 2.3% were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 28% had completed a credential at MJC itself. Together, those numbers suggest MJC functions as an active feeder into the four-year system for a meaningful share of students who enter with transfer intent.
- What programs does Modesto Junior College offer at meaningful scale?
- MJC's highest-volume programs by completions are History and Language/Literature (315) and Biological and Physical Sciences (311) — both strong transfer-prep tracks for humanities and STEM students respectively. Psychology follows at 202 completions, and Business Administration and Management at 142. Child Care Provider/Assistant (137), Medical/Clinical Assistant (94), Liberal Arts and Sciences (92), and Registered Nursing (92) round out the top group. The presence of both transfer-oriented programs and career-ready health and child development tracks means the college serves students with different end goals. If your path runs through humanities, sciences, psychology, or business, MJC has enough volume that advising resources and course sections in those areas are genuinely developed.
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.