
Moorpark, CApublicwww.moorparkcollege.edu/index.shtml
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.
Moorpark College, a standout California community college, combines open-access admissions with robust transfer pathways—particularly to UCLA—and a career-focused curriculum in fields like business and health sciences. Its vibrant campus life, high completion rates, and affordability make it a launchpad for both immediate workforce entry and four-year university aspirations.
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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.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Moorpark College operates on an open-access model typical of California community colleges, with sources reporting a 100% acceptance rate for applicants who meet basic eligibility requirements. The admissions process is straightforward: submit an application (required only for first-time students or those returning after a two-semester absence) and provide high school transcripts or equivalent. Notably, the college's Honors Program boasts an 80% acceptance rate for Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) applicants, significantly higher than the general UCLA transfer rate. Moorpark actively participates in the Common Course Numbering (CCN) system, ensuring seamless credit transfer across California's community colleges.
Moorpark offers associate degrees and certificates across six interdisciplinary areas, with particularly strong programs in Business, Information & Technology (emphasizing leadership and technical skills) and Health & Wellness. The college was named Intelligent.com's Best Community College in California, praised for its transfer readiness and career preparation. Its reflects the typical community college model, though honors and specialized programs offer smaller cohorts. The curriculum is designed for flexibility, with courses offered in fall, spring, and summer sessions across multiple delivery formats. A standout feature is the since 2020-21, which provides guaranteed UCLA admission for qualifying transfers.
The campus buzzes with 50+ student clubs ranging from academic societies to cultural organizations, with active programming around Multicultural Day and Heritage Month celebrations. Students describe the environment as exceptionally safe and supportive, with campus security visibly present. Moorpark's student-first philosophy emphasizes equity and social justice, reflected in services like the Food Pantry and Dreamers Resource Center. The college Instagram showcases a lively atmosphere with events like robotics competitions, theater productions, and sustainability initiatives. For hands-on learners, clubs provide opportunities to apply classroom concepts—the Entrepreneurship Club, for example, runs actual microbusinesses.
Moorpark's graduation rates outpace peers: 34-44% within 3 years (vs. 35% national avg for community colleges), with 42% completing degrees over 5 years. The college excels at transfer outcomes, especially to UCLA—honors students enjoy a 78% admission rate there. Alumni earnings are strong for a two-year school: $72,619 median income at 1 year post-graduation (doubling the national CC average) and $48,100 at 5 years. These figures likely reflect Moorpark's career-technical programs and Ventura County's robust job market. The college transparently tracks outcomes like course completion rates (63%) and transfer rates (12%) through its Institutional Research office.
At $4,601 average net price/year after aid, Moorpark is one of California's most affordable higher-ed options. Financial aid packages average $6,199 in federal grants, $2,436 in state grants, and $1,324 in institutional aid—with Pell Grants covering up to $6,146. Unique offerings include automatic $1,500 CalKIDS Scholarships for eligible CA public school students. While Moorpark doesn't advertise a no-loan policy, its aid packages are heavily grant-based; federal loans are capped at 50% of annual limits for full-time students. The college actively guides students through aid processes, with dedicated workshops for undocumented/Dreamer applicants.
Moorpark distinguishes itself through: