ARC vs. Monterey Peninsula College

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than Monterey Peninsula College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 7,173 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Monterey Peninsula College is in Monterey, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Monterey Peninsula College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Monterey Peninsula College 23:1.

ARC vs. Monterey Peninsula College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College ($9,488 vs. $14,483).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 37.1% lower than at Monterey Peninsula College ($22,086 vs. $35,118).
• American River College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Monterey Peninsula College (about $100 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,188.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.3% higher at ARC than at Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College (89% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American River College students is 7.2% larger than aid received by Monterey Peninsula College students ($5,456 vs. $5,088).

ARC vs. Monterey Peninsula College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula 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; Monterey Peninsula College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027.

ARC vs. Monterey Peninsula College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,900 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Monterey Peninsula College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.