ARC vs. MJC

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than MJC based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 18,258 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Modesto Junior College is in Modesto, CA (Midsize City setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Modesto Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Modesto Junior College 32:1.

ARC vs. MJC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or MJC? 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 Modesto Junior College than ARC ($5,605 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at American River College and MJC ($22,086).
• American River College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MJC (about $6 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,282.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.2% higher at ARC than at Modesto Junior College (about $3,352 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Modesto Junior College (89% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Modesto Junior College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by American River College students ($5,984 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. MJC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or MJC? 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 MJC 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; MJC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: MJC Jun 30, 2027.

ARC vs. MJC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and MJC? 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 American River College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than MJC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,600 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.