Cabrillo College vs. City College of San Francisco

Comparable Facts

Compare Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA with City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

City College of San Francisco is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (19,267 students vs. 9,457 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); City College of San Francisco is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; City College of San Francisco 24:1.

Cabrillo College vs. City College of San Francisco Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo College or City College of San Francisco? 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 City College of San Francisco than Cabrillo College ($9,616 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cabrillo College are 6% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($25,281 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 33.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cabrillo College (about $426 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.6% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Cabrillo College (about $4,794 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at City College of San Francisco (85% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 30.7% larger than aid received by Cabrillo College students ($7,318 vs. $5,600).

Cabrillo College vs. City College of San Francisco Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cabrillo College or City College of San Francisco? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between City College of San Francisco and Cabrillo College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cabrillo College - Open admission; City College of San Francisco - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027.

Cabrillo College vs. City College of San Francisco Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo College and City College of San Francisco? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $800 more per year than Cabrillo College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, City College of San Francisco graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than Cabrillo College graduates ($8,250 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, City College of San Francisco graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cabrillo College graduates ($85 vs. $108).
• More Cabrillo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of San Francisco students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 39%)

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.