ARC vs. Cypress College

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than Cypress College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 15,924 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Cypress College is in Cypress, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cypress College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Cypress College 25:1.

ARC vs. Cypress College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Cypress 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 Cypress College than ARC ($7,253 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at American River College and Cypress College ($22,086).
• American River College is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cypress College (about $138 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at ARC than at Cypress College (about $237 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $12,379.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at American River College as at Cypress College (89% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cypress College students is 16.3% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,345 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Cypress College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Cypress 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 Cypress 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; Cypress College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cypress College Aug 25, 2027.

ARC vs. Cypress College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Cypress 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 Cypress College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cypress College graduates have a $2,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($9,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Cypress College graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($98 vs. $126).
• More Cypress College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.