Fairfield, CAprivate forprofitintercoast.edu
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
InterCoast Colleges-Fairfield is a for-profit career college in Northern California that operates with a singular, pragmatic focus: preparing students for specific, entry-level jobs in technical fields. It’s a no-frills, suburban campus where the curriculum is tightly aligned with occupational training, and the measure of success is a certificate or degree that leads directly to employment. The vibe is functional and adult-learner oriented, a stark contrast to the traditional residential college experience.
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Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Admissions at InterCoast Colleges-Fairfield is described as open-access, with sources indicating a 100% . This aligns with its mission as a career-focused institution designed to provide occupational training. There is no mention of standardized test requirements like the SAT or ACT in the provided sources for this institution; the process appears geared toward evaluating a prospective student's readiness for a specific vocational program rather than academic competition. Sources discussing the and admission profiles for other institutions like Fairfield University are not applicable here, as they pertain to a different, selective liberal arts university.
The academic model is purely occupational. InterCoast Colleges provides "occupational degrees and certificate programs to prepare students to meet employer expectations for training-related employment." It offers a limited slate of six majors, with a student-to-faculty ratio reported at 15:1. The structured coursework emphasizes consistent attendance and practical skills over theoretical exploration. While specific majors aren't detailed in the provided snippets, the focus is on fields like computer technology, as suggested by one source. Reviews from students highlight the value of the certifications received. This is not an institution for broad liberal arts exploration; it's a targeted training ground for specific career paths.
Student life is minimal and centered on the campus as a place of study, not a traditional residential community. The campus is in a suburban setting and serves a small undergraduate population of 139 students. There is no indication of on-campus housing, dining halls, or the extensive club and organization ecosystem found at residential universities. The institution promotes a "student-centered, culturally diverse, inclusive learning environment that promotes respect, opportunity, and community." The community referenced is likely one of shared career goals among adult learners. The campus operates on standard business hours (9:00 am to 6:00 pm), reinforcing its role as a place of business and education rather than a 24/7 living community.
Outcomes are measured by program completion and subsequent employment. A 2022 state report for a specific program showed a 68% on-time completion rate. The canonical figure for median earnings 10 years after entry is $36,089. This earnings data is a critical metric for prospective students evaluating the return on investment for their occupational training. The institution's focus is on equipping graduates with the certifications and skills demanded by local employers, with success defined by job placement in the trained field rather than graduate school admissions or long-term research careers.
The cost structure is transparently tied to program charges. A 2022 report listed total charges for one program at $20,075. The canonical average after aid is $21,536. Other sources cite similar net price figures around $20,120-$21,394 for federal financial aid recipients, with an average aid package of $5,778. Financial aid includes federal grants, work-study, and student loans. The institution offers a net price calculator and provides information on the FAFSA and payment options. It is not described as having a "no-loan" policy or meeting 100% of demonstrated need without loans; aid is structured through standard federal and institutional programs.
InterCoast Colleges-Fairfield stands out for its unapologetic, singular focus. It makes no attempt to mimic a traditional university. It is a direct pipeline to the workforce for students seeking specific, practical credentials in a compressed timeframe. The 100% and lack of residential amenities aren't shortcomings here; they are features that define its accessible, no-nonsense model. It serves a niche of career-changers, recent high school graduates seeking immediate job skills, and adults needing targeted retraining. Its success is judged not by selectivity or research output, but by the completion rates and post-graduation earnings of its students in their chosen technical fields.


