Foothill College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Foothill College charges a net price of $7,653/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $30,612. Graduates earn a median $57,072 ten years after entry, $8,712/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.5 years — a 20-year net return of $143,628, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Foothill College's 3.5-year payback ranks #230 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 82% of them, and #51 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $7,653/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $30,612 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $57,072 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $8,712/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $143,628 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Foothill College's own numbers. Net price $7,653 × 4 years = $30,612 total. Median earnings $57,072 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,712 a year of premium. $30,612 ÷ $8,712 = 3.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $143,628. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Foothill College students graduate with?
A median $10,500 in federal loans among completers, or 18% of the $57,072 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Foothill College students graduate?
56% finish their degree — 44% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $30,612 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $54,664 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Foothill College expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $7,653 net price runs $12,252 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $49,008 less across the full degree.