California Professors Earn $800K Teaching 30 Classes: How the Loophole Works
A CalMatters investigation found California professors earning up to $800,000 a year teaching 30 online classes at multiple colleges — and no rule stops them.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / HaeB (CC BY-SA 4.0)
SACRAMENTO, California — A professor in California's community college system earned nearly $800,000 in a single year by teaching 30 online classes to about 1,100 students, according to a CalMatters investigation published on November 12, 2026. It found at least 70 instructors paid by five or more college districts or campuses in the same year.
The highest earner was Thien-Huong Ninh Villarreal, who teaches sociology, ethnic studies and business. She holds at least two tenured, full-time jobs — at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton — plus part-time work at seven other community colleges and California State University, Sacramento. Course records list 69 sections under her name in 2024, and payroll records put her on the books at 11 districts and campuses. She earned more that year than every administrator in the system, including Chancellor Sonya Christian.
Key Takeaways
- Villarreal earned nearly $800,000 in 2024 — more than any community college administrator in the state, including the system chancellor.
- At least 70 instructors were paid by five or more districts or campuses in 2024; 10 earned more than $343,000.
- No state rule limits how many districts an instructor can teach in; the 73 districts are governed independently.
How California Professors Teach 30 Classes Across Multiple Colleges
The method is straightforward. Adjunct faculty are generally limited to about three classes a semester within any single district, with each district setting its own rules. Nothing in state law adds up the load across districts, so an instructor can stack classes across colleges. Online courses make it work: lectures are recorded once and reused, and much grading is automated.
Astronomy adjunct Andrew Vanden Heuvel told CalMatters he made more than $750,000 in 2024 teaching about 50 online classes and labs nationwide. California schools paid him about $320,000; his total income was $758,485.12. He has instructed as many as 1,000 students in a semester. Bobby Seals, a professor at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, teaches 14 courses at four districts.
How Much Do California Community College Professors Make?
The pay at the top is far above what most people associate with part-time teaching. Ten instructors earned more than $343,000 in 2024 — roughly the median pay for a community college president or chancellor.
| Instructor | Pay in 2024 | Teaching load |
|---|---|---|
| Thien-Huong Ninh Villarreal | Nearly $800,000 | 30 classes, about 1,100 students |
| Andrew Vanden Heuvel | $758,485 | About 50 online classes and labs |
| Ten instructors | Over $343,000 each | Five or more districts |
Most part-time faculty live a different reality. Adjuncts receive no benefits and sometimes little pay, and colleges rely heavily on them to hold down costs. In 2022, lawmakers set aside $200 million for districts to reimburse health insurance costs for part-time instructors.
Is Teaching at Multiple California Colleges Legal?
Yes. None of the instructors identified broke any rules, and no state regulation bars part-time faculty from teaching at more than one district. K. Frindell, president of the California Community College Independents, said the system created the opening. “A loophole has been created,” she said — one that lets districts cut costs by hiring adjuncts and lets adjuncts teach at multiple districts.
The Chancellor's Office disputes that the pay figures prove a problem. Chris Ferguson, its executive vice chancellor for finance and strategic initiatives, told CalMatters that holding several teaching jobs is not, by itself, evidence of poor instruction. The office concedes it cannot say how many adjuncts it has.
CalMatters said it contacted nearly all 73 districts to review its methodology before publication. Payroll data came from Transparent California, which obtains pay records on request. The findings come as US higher education faces pressure, from falling international enrolment to questions about what actually helps students in the classroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the California professor earn teaching 30 classes?
Nearly $800,000 in 2024, per public payroll records analysed by CalMatters — more than any administrator in the system.
How many colleges can a California professor teach at at once?
There is no limit. At least 70 instructors were paid by five or more districts or campuses in 2024.
Is it legal for California professors to teach at multiple colleges?
Yes. No state rule prevents it, and none of the instructors identified broke any rules.
Do California community college professors get benefits for part-time teaching?
Generally no. In 2022, lawmakers set aside $200 million for districts to reimburse part-time instructors' health insurance.
CalMatters said it reached out to Villarreal three times for comment. She never responded.
