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Hartnell College

Hartnell College

Salinas, CA · City · 9,453 students
WebsiteScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$2,039
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
35%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
31% typical
$44,316
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$40,902 typical
Open admission
Acceptance rate
78% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
About

Hartnell College, a public community college located in California's agricultural Salinas Valley, is best known for its robust transfer pathways and strong career programs in nursing, STEM, and agricultural technology. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, it fosters a welcoming, supportive campus culture dedicated to empowering a largely first-generation student body through comprehensive academic resources and hands-on training. The college uniquely sets itself apart through its innovative CSin3 program—a collaborative partnership with CSU Monterey Bay that enables students to earn a computer science bachelor's degree in just three years—as well as its specialized Alisal Campus dedicated to advanced ag-tech and technical trades.

Wikipedia:Hartnell College is a public community college in Salinas, California. Established in 1920 as Salinas Junior College, Hartnell is one of 115 schools that constitute the California Community Colleges, one of the three higher education systems in California. It enrolls nearly 10,000 students, 56% of whom are Latino, and the college is a Hispanic-serving institution. Its name commemorates William Hartnell (1798–1854), who founded the first junior college in California. Hartnell's main campus is located less than a mile west of downtown Salinas. It also has four satellite campuses, one in the Alisal district of Salinas one in King City another in Soledad and another in Castroville.

Location
Salinas, CA, 93901 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
SJC · San Jose
50 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$1,404$10,374
Books & supplies$1,062$1,062
Cost of attendance$11,892$55,574
Average net price$2,039Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$10,374
In-state: $1,404
Books & supplies$1,062
Cost of attendance$55,574
In-state: $11,892
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $2,039
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.hartnell.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
Hartnell College’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$10,374
Books & supplies$1,306
Personal expenses$5,706
Transportation$1,656
Total published by the school$55,574
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$828
$30–48k
$465
$48–75k
$3,124
$75–110k
$6,856
$110k+
$9,885
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
35%
Entered 2017–18
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
51% graduated · 12% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 36% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$36,065
10 yrs after entry$44,316
Debt
Middle 50% owe$1.8k–$4.5k
Green marks a figure above the typical Associate's — high transfer: 31% graduate within 6 yrs, $40,902 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions

No admissions data available for this college.

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Essay prompts

If Hartnell College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 54%Women 46%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
22 : 1
Pell grant
32%
First-gen
65%
Family income
$24,413
Independent
30%
Veterans
1%
Age at entry
22.0
Part-time
60%
Race & ethnicity
White
15%
Hispanic
74%
Black
2%
Asian
4%
Two or more
2%
Unknown
3%
Varsity sports
CCCAA · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Beach Volleyball
    Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field (Outdoor)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$13M
Full-time faculty
36%
Faculty salary
$11,975/mo
Teaching spend
$4,974
per student
Federal loans
0%
Classification
Carnegie type
Associate's — high transfer
Undergraduate profile
Two-year, mostly part-time

Wondering if Hartnell College is the right fit for you?

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