ARC vs. CRC

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than CRC based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 15,744 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ARC vs. CRC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or CRC? 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 Cosumnes River College than ARC ($8,043 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at American River College and CRC ($22,086).
• American River College and CRC have the same published in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at ARC as at Cosumnes River College ($12,616.00 vs. $12,616.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cosumnes River College than at American River College (92% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American River College students is 8.8% larger than aid received by Cosumnes River College students ($5,456 vs. $5,017).

ARC vs. CRC Admissions comparison

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

ARC vs. CRC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and CRC? 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 American River College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than CRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cosumnes River College graduates have a $2,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($9,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, CRC graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($98 vs. $126).
• More CRC 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.