Students at Pacific Oaks College achieve earnings that significantly exceed expectations for graduates in education and human development fields, with strong value-added performance of approximately $9,008.
The college combines accessible education for diverse students with effective career preparation that leads to sustainable financial outcomes and meaningful professional impact.
Pacific Oaks College is a small private nonprofit institution in Pasadena, California, that specializes in education and human development programs. While comprehensive ranking data is limited due to the college's specialized focus and small size, Pacific Oaks demonstrates strong commitment to serving diverse student populations, with 55% of students receiving Pell Grants and 58% being first-generation college students.
The college's graduates earn a median of $52,485 ten years after enrollment, with particularly strong performance in value-added earnings of approximately $9,008 above what would be expected for similar students at other institutions. This earnings boost reflects the college's effectiveness in preparing students for careers in education, counseling, and human services fields.
Pacific Oaks operates with a clear mission focused on social justice and educational equity, attracting students who prioritize meaningful career outcomes over maximum earnings potential. The institution's small size allows for personalized attention and close faculty-student relationships, creating an environment where non-traditional students, including many adult learners and career changers, can successfully complete their degrees and transition into impactful professional roles in their communities.
Pacific Oaks College's program portfolio reflects its specialized mission in education and human development, with two primary areas driving graduate outcomes. Adult Development and Aging stands out as the college's flagship program, graduating 96 students annually with median earnings of $37,883 and representing the highest aggregate return among the college's offerings. This program prepares graduates for careers in gerontology, counseling, and social services, fields with growing demand as the population ages.
Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching, the college's second-largest program, graduates 61 students per year with median earnings of $39,927. This program serves many career changers and adult learners seeking to transition into education roles, reflecting the college's commitment to serving non-traditional students and addressing teacher shortages in California.
Both programs demonstrate the college's focus on preparing graduates for meaningful careers in education and human services rather than maximizing earnings potential. The modest but steady earnings reflect typical compensation in these fields, where graduates often prioritize job satisfaction, work-life balance, and social impact over maximum financial returns. The college's strong value-added earnings performance suggests that graduates are well-prepared to advance within their chosen career paths and achieve better outcomes than peers from similar institutions.
Pacific Oaks College graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes considering the college's focus on education and human services fields. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $52,485, with the institution delivering approximately $9,008 in earnings beyond expectations compared with similar students at other institutions. This value-added performance demonstrates the college's effectiveness in preparing students for career advancement in their chosen fields.
The college's program portfolio centers on education and human development, with Adult Development and Aging representing the largest program by total return, graduating 96 students with median earnings of $37,883. Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching, the second-largest program, graduates 61 students annually with median earnings of $39,927. While these early-career earnings reflect the typically modest starting salaries in education and social services, graduates often see steady career progression and the intrinsic rewards of meaningful work.
Pacific Oaks' specialized focus means graduates enter fields where financial rewards may grow more slowly but offer substantial job security and personal fulfillment. The college's strong value-added earnings suggest that graduates outperform expectations within these career paths, likely due to the institution's emphasis on practical skills, social justice orientation, and preparation for leadership roles in educational and community settings.
Affordability information for Pacific Oaks College is limited in the available data, with net price figures across income bands not reported. As a small private nonprofit institution, the college likely operates with a different pricing structure than larger universities, though specific details about financial aid and net costs are not available in the current dataset.
Student debt levels provide some insight into the financial experience. Graduates typically leave with $29,105 in federal student loan debt, a moderate level that reflects the college's specialized programs and smaller scale. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $10,412, suggesting that many families contribute directly to educational costs but at relatively modest levels compared to larger private institutions.
The college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates are successfully managing their debt obligations despite working in fields that typically offer modest starting salaries. This strong repayment performance suggests that the combination of career preparation, earnings outcomes, and debt levels creates a sustainable financial picture for most graduates, even in education and human services careers where salary growth may be gradual but steady over time.
Pacific Oaks College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
