ARC vs. FLC

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than FLC based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 11,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ARC vs. FLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or FLC? 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 Folsom Lake College than ARC ($8,982 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at American River College and FLC ($22,086).
• American River College and FLC 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 Folsom Lake College ($12,616.00 vs. $12,616.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Folsom Lake College (89% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American River College students is 52.8% larger than aid received by Folsom Lake College students ($5,456 vs. $3,570).

ARC vs. FLC Admissions comparison

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

ARC vs. FLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and FLC? 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Folsom Lake College graduates have a $4,483 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($7,750 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, FLC graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($80 vs. $126).
• More FLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (33% 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.