Foothill College

What is the cost of studying for a year at Foothill College?

Foothill's published tuition is relatively low for California residents, but tuition is only part of the cost of attending. For 2025-26, reported full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees were approximately:

• California resident: $1,395 in tuition and $170 in required fees, or $1,565 combined.
• Out-of-state student: $12,420 in tuition and $170 in required fees, or $12,762 combined.

Those figures are not a complete annual budget. Reported books and supplies cost $1,797, while the reported room-and-board allowance was $20,793. Because Foothill does not operate student housing, that housing figure is an estimated living expense, not a residence-hall charge. Transportation and personal costs can add substantially more, especially for commuters or students renting in the Bay Area. Course load, residency classification, program charges, and living arrangements can change an individual estimate.

Financial aid changes what a student may ultimately pay. In 2024-25 reporting, 68% of students received financial aid and 2% received student loans. Reported average net prices, which reflect costs after grant or scholarship aid for the populations measured, ranged from $6,390 for families earning up to $48,000 to $14,237 for families earning more than $110,000. These are averages rather than quotes for an individual applicant.

Eligible students may be able to use federal grants, California aid, the California College Promise Grant's enrollment-fee waiver, scholarships, or veterans' education benefits. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or an applicable California Dream Act application, is a starting point for determining aid eligibility; each program has its own rules and deadlines.

What are the work-study opportunities at Foothill College?

Eligible Foothill students may use Federal Work-Study to earn wages from approved part-time employment while attending school. Work-Study is a financial-aid program, not a grant paid in advance or a guarantee of a job.

Eligibility depends on a student's aid application, financial need, available funding, and the requirements of an approved position. Students generally must apply for jobs and work the hours for which they are paid. Someone who does not receive Work-Study may still seek an ordinary part-time job, but that job is not automatically funded or administered through the aid program.

For longer-term career planning, Foothill offers services including individual and group career counseling, career-interest exploration, résumé preparation, interview support, and job fairs. Those services can help students identify a major or prepare an application; they should not be interpreted as a measured employment outcome or a promise of placement.