Norco College has been ranked #15 in California’s top 25 community and career colleges delivering a fast and strong return on investment (ROI) for students, according to Golden Returns: A Regional Look at the ROI of California’s Community and Career Colleges, a new analysis by the College Futures Foundation and the HEA Group.

Top-performing Inland Empire institutions—Norco College, Moreno Valley College, and Riverside City College—serve large numbers of low-income students, charge less than $5,000 annually, and help graduates earn significantly more than those with only a high school diploma. The study analyzed data from 327 institutions using a “Price-to-Earnings Premium” (PEP) metric that considers both net cost and post-completion earnings. According to the findings, many graduates from Riverside Community College District schools recoup their total educational costs within a year of completing a degree or certificate.

The college’s nomination highlights its expanding collaboration with the City of Eastvale, particularly through Norco College at Eastvale, which will be housed in the city’s upcoming Innovation Center—a major project slated to open by 2028. The center will serve as a hub for education, workforce training and entrepreneurship, with Norco College as a key educational anchor.

“This recognition affirms our mission to uplift our community by offering education that delivers real economic mobility,” said President Monica Green, Ed.D. “We’re proud that Norco College students are seeing meaningful returns so quickly after graduation.”

To learn more about the report and why ROI matters, visit: https://bit.ly/44Il9oH.