ARC vs. DVC

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than DVC based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 17,228 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ARC vs. DVC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or DVC? 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 DVC ($9,488 vs. $11,001).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 5% lower than at Diablo Valley College ($22,086 vs. $23,238).
• Diablo Valley 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 Diablo Valley 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 Diablo Valley College (89% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American River College students is 22.9% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($5,456 vs. $4,441).

ARC vs. DVC Admissions comparison

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

ARC vs. DVC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and DVC? 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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.