The value of Irvine Valley College is being recognized nationwide. WalletHub’s 2025 best community colleges rankings placed IVC No. 12 overall for affordability, student outcomes and educational quality.

In the Golden Returns report, conducted by the College Futures Foundation and The HEA Group, IVC ranked No. 13 statewide for return on investment and was one of only 25 California schools where students can recoup their education costs in six months or less.

“This validates our intentional efforts to advance the economic and social mobility of our students, to align programs with local workforce needs and to ensure every student has a path to opportunity,” IVC President John Hernandez says.