ARC vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than Saddleback College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 20,764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

ARC vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than ARC ($8,122 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 14.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• American River College is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $132 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at ARC than at Saddleback College (about $756 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $11,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Saddleback College (89% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American River College students is 18.5% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($5,456 vs. $4,603).

ARC vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

ARC vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $6,113 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($6,120 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($63 vs. $126).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.