ARC vs. CCC

Deciding between American River College and Contra Costa College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American River College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ARC Sacramento, CA
  • CCC San Pablo, CA
  • Setting
  • ARC Large Suburban
  • CCC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ARC 30,462
  • CCC 6,538
  • Type
  • ARC Public 2 Year
  • CCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ARC
  • CCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ARC -
  • CCC -
  • Status
  • ARC Non-profit
  • CCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ARC
  • CCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ARC $1,288
  • CCC $1,312
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ARC $12,616
  • CCC $10,320
  • Room & Board
  • ARC $22,086
  • CCC $23,238
  • Average Net Price
  • ARC $9,488
  • CCC $11,384
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ARC $5,456
  • CCC $5,652
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ARC 89%
  • CCC 84%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ARC -
  • CCC -
  • Admitted
  • ARC -
  • CCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ARC Open
  • CCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • ARC Open
  • CCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • ARC
  • CCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • ARC
  • CCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • ARC -
  • CCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ARC -
  • CCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • ARC Unavailable
  • CCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • ARC
  • CCC
  • ACT Range
  • ARC
  • CCC
  • SAT Range
  • ARC
  • CCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ARC Open admission
  • CCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ARC
  • CCC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ARC 29:1
  • CCC 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ARC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Construction Trades (10%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • CCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • General Studies (11%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ARC -
  • CCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ARC $36,600
  • CCC $37,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ARC 26%
  • CCC 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ARC $12,233
  • CCC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ARC $126
  • CCC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ARC 51%
  • CCC 40%
  • % Women
  • ARC 49%
  • CCC 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ARC High
  • CCC Very High
  • HBCU
  • ARC No
  • CCC No
  • % White
  • ARC 46%
  • CCC 10%
  • % Asian
  • ARC 11%
  • CCC 19%
  • % Black
  • ARC 9%
  • CCC 21%
  • % Hispanic
  • ARC 22%
  • CCC 39%
  • % Native American
  • ARC 1%
  • CCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ARC 1%
  • CCC 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ARC 6%
  • CCC 6%
  • % International
  • ARC 1%
  • CCC 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ARC 4%
  • CCC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ARC 97%
  • CCC 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ARC 0%
  • CCC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ARC No
  • CCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ARC No
  • CCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • ARC No
  • CCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ARC No
  • CCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ARC Yes
  • CCC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than CCC based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 6,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Contra Costa College is in San Pablo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Contra Costa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Contra Costa College 22:1.

ARC vs. CCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or CCC? 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 CCC ($9,488 vs. $11,384).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 5% lower than at Contra Costa College ($22,086 vs. $23,238).
  • Contra Costa College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ARC (about $24 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,288.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.2% higher at ARC than at Contra Costa College (about $2,296 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,320.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Contra Costa College (89% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Contra Costa College students is 3.6% larger than aid received by American River College students ($5,652 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. CCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or CCC? 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 CCC 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; CCC - Open admission.

ARC vs. CCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and CCC? 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 Contra Costa College earn a median of about $400 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More CCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (28% 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.