Cabrillo College vs. Mendocino College

Comparable Facts

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

Cabrillo College is larger than Mendocino College based on total student enrollment (9,457 students vs. 4,225 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Mendocino College is in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Mendocino College 16:1.

Cabrillo College vs. Mendocino College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo College or Mendocino 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 Mendocino College than Cabrillo College ($9,798 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 34.4% lower than at Cabrillo College ($16,580 vs. $25,281).
• Mendocino College is 12% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cabrillo College (about $153 more per year; $1,423.00 vs. $1,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at Mendocino College than at Cabrillo College (about $141 more per year; $10,003.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at Mendocino College (85% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 28.2% larger than aid received by Cabrillo College students ($7,180 vs. $5,600).

Cabrillo College vs. Mendocino College Admissions comparison

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

Cabrillo College vs. Mendocino College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo College and Mendocino College? 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 Cabrillo College earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than Mendocino College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cabrillo College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Mendocino College graduates ($10,500 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, Cabrillo College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mendocino College graduates ($108 vs. $134).
• More Cabrillo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 30%)

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.