ARC vs. SAC

Deciding between American River College and Santa Ana College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American River College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • ARC Sacramento, CA
  • SAC Santa Ana, CA
  • Setting
  • ARC Large Suburban
  • SAC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ARC 30,462
  • SAC 27,248
  • Type
  • ARC Public 2 Year
  • SAC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ARC
  • SAC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ARC -
  • SAC -
  • Status
  • ARC Non-profit
  • SAC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ARC
  • SAC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ARC $1,288
  • SAC $1,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ARC $12,616
  • SAC $10,756
  • Room & Board
  • ARC $22,086
  • SAC $22,126
  • Average Net Price
  • ARC $9,488
  • SAC $5,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ARC $5,456
  • SAC $6,768
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ARC 89%
  • SAC 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ARC -
  • SAC -
  • Admitted
  • ARC -
  • SAC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ARC Open
  • SAC Open
  • Enrolled
  • ARC Open
  • SAC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • ARC
  • SAC
  • Typical ACT score
  • ARC
  • SAC
  • Average High School GPA
  • ARC -
  • SAC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ARC -
  • SAC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • ARC Unavailable
  • SAC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • ARC
  • SAC
  • ACT Range
  • ARC
  • SAC
  • SAT Range
  • ARC
  • SAC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ARC Open admission
  • SAC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ARC
  • SAC Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ARC 29:1
  • SAC 33:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ARC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Construction Trades (10%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • SAC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Work and Family Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ARC -
  • SAC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ARC $36,600
  • SAC $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ARC 26%
  • SAC 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ARC $12,233
  • SAC $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ARC $126
  • SAC $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ARC 51%
  • SAC 58%
  • % Women
  • ARC 49%
  • SAC 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ARC High
  • SAC High
  • HBCU
  • ARC No
  • SAC No
  • % White
  • ARC 46%
  • SAC 21%
  • % Asian
  • ARC 11%
  • SAC 8%
  • % Black
  • ARC 9%
  • SAC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • ARC 22%
  • SAC 50%
  • % Native American
  • ARC 1%
  • SAC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ARC 1%
  • SAC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ARC 6%
  • SAC 1%
  • % International
  • ARC 1%
  • SAC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ARC 4%
  • SAC 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ARC 97%
  • SAC 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ARC 0%
  • SAC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ARC No
  • SAC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ARC No
  • SAC No
  • Meal Plan
  • ARC No
  • SAC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ARC No
  • SAC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ARC Yes
  • SAC Yes

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than SAC based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 27,248 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Ana College is in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting).
  • American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Santa Ana College 33:1.

ARC vs. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or SAC? 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 Santa Ana College than ARC ($5,894 vs. $9,488).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 0.2% lower than at Santa Ana College ($22,086 vs. $22,126).
  • American River College is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SAC (about $108 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.3% higher at ARC than at Santa Ana College (about $1,860 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,756.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at American River College as at Santa Ana College (89% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Ana College students is 24% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,768 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. SAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or SAC? 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 SAC 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; SAC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027.

ARC vs. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and SAC? 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 Santa Ana College earn a median of about $900 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Ana College graduates have a $4,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,233).
  • Among borrowers, SAC graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($77 vs. $126).
  • More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.