ARC vs. Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than Valley College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 15,999 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Los Angeles Valley College is in Valley Glen, CA (Large City setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Los Angeles Valley College 28:1.

ARC vs. Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Valley 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 American River College than Valley College ($9,488 vs. $13,550).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Valley College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• American River College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Valley College (about $50 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.3% higher at ARC than at Los Angeles Valley College (about $2,044 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Los Angeles Valley College (89% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Valley College students is 14.4% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,243 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Valley College Admissions comparison

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

ARC vs. Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Valley 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 Los Angeles Valley College earn a median of about $400 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,000 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Valley College graduates have a $3,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($8,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Valley College graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($87 vs. $126).
• More Valley 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.