Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Yuba College

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Yuba College that cost less. 6 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Yuba College

Marysville, California · Public

$2,576
Net Price
$39,552
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
36.0%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Yuba College

Yuba College posts an average net price of $2,576 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Yuba College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $3,704, achieved by Oxnard College at -$1,128. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 6 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Yuba College’s $39,552, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $38,704.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$3,704
Max Savings
6
Better Value Options
81%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. West Georgia Technical Colle $35k 2. Lamar State College-Orange $37k 3. Illinois Valley Community Co $41k 4. Spartanburg Community Colleg $37k 5. College of the Mainland $40k Compared to Yuba College: $40k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

A negative College Scorecard net price means the institution reported average grant and scholarship aid above its cost-of-attendance estimate for the covered first-time, full-time aid recipients. It is a cohort average, not a promise that every student is paid to attend.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
West Georgia Technical College
Waco, GA · Public
$2,457 -$119 $35,479 33.0% 81%
Lamar State College-Orange
Orange, TX · Public
$1,655 -$921 $36,587 33.8% 71%
Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, IL · Public Better Value
$2,232 -$344 $40,810 43.3% 70%
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg, SC · Public
$2,405 -$171 $37,097 28.9% 65%
College of the Mainland
Texas City, TX · Public Better Value
$1,342 -$1,234 $39,639 29.8% 64%
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA · Public Better Value
-$1,128 -$3,704 $41,393 33.4% 63%
College of the Sequoias
Visalia, CA · Public
$480 -$2,096 $39,092 35.7% 63%
Johnston Community College
Smithfield, NC · Public
$1,776 -$800 $37,310 32.1% 61%
Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC · Public
$1,664 -$912 $36,142 39.8% 61%
Wood County Technical Center-Practical Nursing
Parkersburg, WV · Public Better Value
$2,248 -$328 $40,547 N/A 57%
Victor Valley College
Victorville, CA · Public
$1,947 -$629 $36,119 45.4% 57%
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL · Public Better Value
$1,471 -$1,105 $42,557 37.9% 54%
Southwest College for the Deaf
Big Spring, TX · Public
$2,458 -$118 $38,382 42.2% 54%
Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC · Public
$1,406 -$1,170 $38,253 29.2% 53%
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA · Public Better Value
$2,424 -$152 $41,156 29.6% 52%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Yuba College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Yuba College?
We found 15 schools similar to Yuba College that cost less. The closest match is West Georgia Technical College with 81% similarity and a net price of $2,457.
What is the ROI of attending Yuba College?
Yuba College has an average net price of $2,576. Former students earn a median of $39,552 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 15.4x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Yuba College for less money?
Yes - 6 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Illinois Valley Community College costs $2,232 (saving $344) with median earnings of $40,810.
What is the cheapest alternative to Yuba College?
The most affordable similar school is Oxnard College at -$1,128, saving $3,704 compared to Yuba College. It has a 63% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $38,704 compared to Yuba College's $39,552. While alternatives cost less, their average earnings are also lower. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.