Pacific Oaks College
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access and students from lower-income families. median debt is moderately high; earnings-to-debt ratio is tight. 57% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Pacific Oaks College is a private nonprofit institution located in Pasadena, California with approximately 312 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 34% of applicants. In-state tuition is $32,520 per year. Typical graduates earn $43,100 within 10 years of enrollment.
Pacific Oaks College is a private college with its main campus in Pasadena, California. The college draws on Quaker principles and focuses on social justice. It offers full and part-time undergraduate and graduate courses at Pacific Oaks' California campuses as well as online. Pacific Oaks also operates a children's school that has been in operation since 1945.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: with median earnings of just $43,100 a decade after enrollment, graduates don't earn dramatically more than the debt load of $29,105 they carry out the door, leaving little financial cushion. That said, the 10% acceptance rate signals this is a genuinely selective school with a tight-knit community of 346 undergrads, which appeals to students who want close faculty relationships. Worth considering if you're passionate about the specific programs offered — particularly in human development and early education — but go in with clear eyes about the modest earning trajectory.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
After Graduation
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Pacific Oaks College graduates earn most above the national rate in Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services ($68,287 vs $58,524 nationally), and most below it in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($69,244 vs $103,485).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 85 | $65,108 | $59,916 | +$5,192 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 61 | $67,917 | $59,571 | +$8,346 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 33 | $68,287 | $58,524 | +$9,763 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 11 | $69,244 | $103,485 | −$34,241 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a master's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (312 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Pacific Oaks College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Pacific Oaks College?
Pacific Oaks College has an acceptance rate of 34%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Pacific Oaks College hard to get into?
Pacific Oaks College is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 34%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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