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Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California · Public community college
Address: 1570 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106 · Phone: (626) 585-7123 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Pasadena City College is a public trade and career school in Pasadena, CA offering auto mechanic, radiology, and cosmetology programs, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Pasadena City College has a 47.9% completion rate, below the state average of 64.2%, with median graduate debt of $6,651 and median earnings of $43,937 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Pasadena City College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 31.1% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,180 | $64,980 | $77,060 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $70,210 | $121,260 | $137,770 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $35,360 | $38,660 | $49,030 |
| Dental hygienists | $102,090 | $124,930 | $132,120 |
| Dental assistants | $38,790 | $50,110 | $60,670 |
| Construction laborers | $40,950 | $60,270 | $78,520 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,390 | $79,750 | $93,720 |
| Medical assistants | $39,290 | $49,660 | $61,870 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $37,380 | $64,500 | $81,040 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $44,520 | $58,060 | $70,400 |
| Machinists | $37,440 | $57,190 | $74,210 |
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
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 66 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 26 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 26 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 2–4 years | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 2–4 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | 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.
About this school
Pasadena City College is a public community college in Pasadena, California, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, with additional program-level accreditation from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here. The campus offers 25 program families in trade and career fields, with the most-awarded programs being auto mechanic schools (84 completions), radiology and sonography programs (45), and cosmetology schools (28). Other program families include dental hygiene, dental assisting, construction trades, LPN, medical assisting, culinary arts, welding, and CNC machining.
Among the numbers reported: the overall completion rate is 47.9%, which is below the state average of 64.2%. Median debt for graduates is $6,651, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $43,937. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 31.1% of students receive Pell Grants, an indicator of lower-income enrollment. Undergraduate enrollment totals 21,466, with 258 trade-program completers counted in this data set.
This campus, located in a midsize city, offers a broad mix of shorter career-training programs and longer allied-health tracks such as radiology and dental hygiene, which may suit both quick-entry career changers and those seeking more clinical credentialing, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and outcomes directly through the College Scorecard or by contacting the school, rather than relying solely on these figures.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Pasadena City College offers 25 program families including auto mechanic schools, radiology and sonography, cosmetology, dental hygiene, dental assisting, construction trades, LPN, medical assisting, culinary arts, welding, and CNC machining. The top programs by completions are auto mechanic schools (84), radiology and sonography (45), and cosmetology (28).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, with additional programmatic accreditation from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial 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 47.9%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates is $6,651, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $43,937, per the 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 at (626) 585-7123 or visit https://pasadena.edu/ for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Pasadena City College is a public institution, which often means lower published tuition and eligibility for state funding compared with for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in this data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can review official outcome data at the College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?121044) or confirm accreditation status through the listed accrediting bodies.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a range of shorter career-training programs alongside longer allied-health tracks like radiology and dental hygiene, which may suit career changers, though individual fit depends on specific program details not included here.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements vary by program and are not detailed in this data; contact the school or relevant state licensing board for specifics.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Pasadena City College at (626) 585-7123 or through its website, https://pasadena.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; 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.