ARC vs. Ventura College

Comparable Facts

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

American River College is larger than Ventura College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 12,222 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ARC vs. Ventura College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Ventura 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 Ventura College than ARC ($2,522 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at American River College and Ventura College ($22,086).
• Ventura College is 10.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ARC (about $138 more per year; $1,426.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.2% higher at ARC than at Ventura College (about $3,001 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $9,615.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ventura College than at American River College (91% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ventura College students is 16.9% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,376 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Ventura College Admissions comparison

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

ARC vs. Ventura College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Ventura 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 Ventura College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ventura College graduates have a $1,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($10,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Ventura College graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($108 vs. $126).
• More Ventura College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (33% 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.