Cabrillo College vs. SAC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Ana College is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 9,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Santa Ana College is in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Santa Ana College 33:1.

Cabrillo College vs. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo College 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 Cabrillo College ($5,894 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Ana College are 12.5% lower than at Cabrillo College ($22,126 vs. $25,281).
• Cabrillo College is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SAC (about $90 more per year; $1,270.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at SAC than at Cabrillo College (about $894 more per year; $10,756.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at Cabrillo College (89% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Ana College students is 20.9% larger than aid received by Cabrillo College students ($6,768 vs. $5,600).

Cabrillo College vs. SAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cabrillo College 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 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; SAC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027; SAC Apr 1, 2027.

Cabrillo College vs. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo College 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 Cabrillo College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Ana College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Cabrillo College graduates ($7,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, SAC graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cabrillo College graduates ($77 vs. $108).
• More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cabrillo College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 40%)

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.