
Oxnard, CApublicwww.oxnardcollege.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.
Oxnard College is an open-access community college in Southern California that serves as a critical launchpad for local students, particularly those from working-class families. With a focus on practical programs like fire science, automotive tech, and liberal arts transfer pathways, it combines affordability with robust student support services.
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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.
Oxnard College operates on an open admissions policy—anyone with a high school diploma, GED, or who is at least 18 years old can enroll. The Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. is effectively 100%, with no SAT/ACT requirements or demonstrated interest considered. The college emphasizes accessibility, particularly for First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. and non-traditional students.
The college specializes in hands-on and career-oriented programs, with liberal arts and humanities (1,232 students) as the most popular major, followed by natural sciences (384) and fire protection (124). Its 29:1 student-faculty ratio reflects typical community college staffing. Notable departments include:
A 'guided pathways' model helps students align coursework with transfer or career goals.
Campus vibrancy centers around the Associated Student Government (11 elected positions) and 20+ clubs. The Performing Arts Building hosts cultural events, while athletics (soccer, basketball) draw local crowds. Instagram posts showcase a tight-knit community with hashtags like #CollegeWithHeart, highlighting:
Graduation rates are uneven but improving:
Notably, online programs have recently boosted completion rates.
Tuition is $1,085/year for in-state students. Financial aid packages average $5,233, with 95% of first-years receiving grants:
Loans are available but discouraged—the college promotes debt-free pathways through work-study and fee waivers.
Oxnard College excels as a social mobility engine for Ventura County’s working-class communities. Its fire academy feeds directly into local departments, while transfer agreements guarantee admission to UC/CSU campuses for top students. The 'open door' policy—paired with food/housing support—makes it a model for serving non-traditional learners.


