Head-to-head · 2026
Imperial Valley College vs Modesto Junior College
Compare average net price ($1,115 at Imperial Valley College; $2,818 at Modesto Junior College), ROI score (77.33 vs 37.59), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($34,487 vs $42,368), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Imperial Valley College; Open / not reported at Modesto Junior College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Imperial Valley College | Modesto Junior College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 77.33 ✓ | 37.59 |
| Avg net price | $1,115 ✓ | $2,818 |
| 4-year avg net price | $4,460 ✓ | $11,272 |
| In-state tuition | $1,148 | $1,282 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $8,852 | $9,264 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $34,487 | $42,368 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 44.6% ✓ | 29.6% |
| Retention rate | 75.7% ✓ | 71.4% |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Enrollment | 7,652 | 15,109 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Imperial Valley College | Modesto Junior College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $1,112 ✓ | $1,658 |
| Family income $30–48k | — | $1,623 |
| Family income $48–75k | — | $4,809 |
| Family income $75–110k | $2,221 ✓ | $6,508 |
| Family income $110k+ | — | $8,681 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Imperial Valley College | Modesto Junior College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 37.7% | 17.9% |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 11.4% | 11.5% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 8.7% | 3.8% |
| Psychology, General | 6.2% | 6.3% |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 2.5% | 9.1% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 2.5% | 7.1% |
| Sociology | 2.2% | 2.7% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 1.1% | 3.3% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Imperial Valley College reports the lower average net price by $1,703 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $6,812 difference over four years ($4,460 vs $11,272).
Modesto Junior College reports $7,881 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($42,368 vs $34,487). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 75.7% at Imperial Valley College and 71.4% at Modesto Junior College. Debt data is incomplete for at least one school, so it is not used as a deciding signal here.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Imperial Valley College vs Modesto Junior College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Imperial Valley College is cheaper — average net price $1,115 per year vs $2,818 at Modesto Junior College. The annual difference of $1,703 adds up to about $6,812 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Modesto Junior College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $42,368 vs $34,487 at Imperial Valley College. The gap in the federal data is $7,881. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.