ARC vs. Cabrillo College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 9,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Cabrillo College is in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Cabrillo College 20:1.

ARC vs. Cabrillo College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Cabrillo College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American River College than Cabrillo College ($9,488 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 12.6% lower than at Cabrillo College ($22,086 vs. $25,281).
• American River College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cabrillo College (about $18 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.9% higher at ARC than at Cabrillo College (about $2,754 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Cabrillo College (89% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cabrillo College students is 2.6% larger than aid received by American River College students ($5,600 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Cabrillo College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Cabrillo College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cabrillo College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; Cabrillo College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027.

ARC vs. Cabrillo College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Cabrillo College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Cabrillo College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cabrillo College graduates have a $1,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($10,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Cabrillo College graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($108 vs. $126).
• More Cabrillo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.