Cabrillo College vs. Hartnell College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA with Hartnell College in Salinas, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hartnell College is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (11,273 students vs. 9,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Hartnell College is in Salinas, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Hartnell College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Hartnell College 22:1.

Cabrillo College vs. Hartnell College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo College or Hartnell 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 Hartnell College than Cabrillo College ($5,246 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cabrillo College are 12.7% lower than at Hartnell College ($25,281 vs. $28,953).
• Hartnell College is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cabrillo College (about $134 more per year; $1,404.00 vs. $1,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Hartnell College than at Cabrillo College (about $512 more per year; $10,374.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartnell College than at Cabrillo College (94% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hartnell College students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Cabrillo College students ($6,263 vs. $5,600).

Cabrillo College vs. Hartnell College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cabrillo College or Hartnell 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 Hartnell College 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; Hartnell College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027.

Cabrillo College vs. Hartnell College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo College and Hartnell 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 Cabrillo College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Hartnell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $36,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cabrillo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hartnell College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 27%)

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.