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Monterey Peninsula College

Monterey, California · Public community college

EMT & paramedic trainingMedical assistant programsDental assistant schoolsAuto mechanic schoolsCulinary & pastry schoolsMedical billing & coding programsMassage therapy schools
40%completion rate · California avg 64%
not reportedmedian debt of graduates
$34,496median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$42,176median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (Accredited)
Address: 980 Fremont St, Monterey, CA 93940 · Phone: (831) 646-4000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

Monterey Peninsula College is a public trade and career school in Monterey, California offering EMT & paramedic training, medical assistant, and dental assistant programs, accredited by ACCJC and ACEN.

Monterey Peninsula College has a 39.7% completion rate, below the state average of 64.2%, and median earnings of $42,176 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.

Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Monterey Peninsula College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and 18.9% of students receive Pell Grants.

Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Monterey Peninsula Co… Monterey Peninsula Co…: 39.7% 39.7% California average California average: 64.2% 64.2% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Emergency medical technicians$38,740$46,380$59,180
Medical assistants$39,290$49,660$61,870
Dental assistants$38,790$50,110$60,670
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$38,180$64,980$77,060
Chefs and head cooks$37,380$64,500$81,040
Medical records specialists$43,800$61,810$80,630
Massage therapists$34,320$45,970$64,130

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Certificate, 300–899 hours 76 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate degree 13 not reported not reported not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Certificate, 300–899 hours 12 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 1–2 years 11 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 10 not reported not reported not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate degree 10 not reported not reported not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate degree 7 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 7 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 5 not reported not reported not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 4 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 4 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 2 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate degree 2 not reported not reported not reported
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services Associate degree 1 not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

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About this school

Monterey Peninsula College is a public community college in Monterey, California, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and, for its nursing offerings, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used at this campus. Among its 14 trade and career program families, the campus awards the most credentials in EMT & paramedic training (76), medical assistant programs (24), and dental assistant schools (22).

Federal data shows a completion rate of 39.7%, which is below the state average of 64.2%. Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are reported at $42,176. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 18.9% of students receive Pell Grants, a rough indicator of the share of lower-income students served.

With a mix of short career-training certificates like EMT training and longer allied-health programs such as medical and dental assisting, this campus may suit both first-time students and adult career-changers seeking shorter, focused credentials, though program length details are not stated here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with ACCJC or ACEN and review outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Monterey Peninsula College offers 14 trade and career program families, most notably EMT & paramedic training (76 completers), medical assistant programs (24), and dental assistant schools (22).

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, it is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, with nursing programs also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The completion rate is 39.7%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (831) 646-4000 or check the College Scorecard link for updates.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $42,176 per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

Monterey Peninsula College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition for state residents compared to for-profit trade schools.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Specific program lengths are not reported in the available data; contact the school or visit mpc.edu for program schedules.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can confirm accreditation through ACCJC or ACEN, and review federal outcome data directly on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?119067.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The campus offers a range of shorter certificate programs like EMT training alongside longer allied-health programs, which may suit career changers, though exact program lengths and scheduling are not stated in this data.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Monterey Peninsula College at (831) 646-4000 or visit https://www.mpc.edu/ for application details.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data on nearby schools is not included in this listing; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across institutions.

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

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