ARC vs. Fullerton College

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than Fullerton College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 19,521 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ARC vs. Fullerton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than ARC ($8,306 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at American River College and Fullerton College ($22,086).
• American River College is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton 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 Fullerton College (about $237 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $12,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Fullerton College (89% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American River College students is 2.9% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($5,456 vs. $5,301).

ARC vs. Fullerton College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Fullerton 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 Fullerton 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; Fullerton College - Open admission.

ARC vs. Fullerton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Fullerton 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 Fullerton College earn a median of about $700 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Fullerton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.