Cabrillo College vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

Sierra College is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (19,125 students vs. 9,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Sierra College 25:1.

Cabrillo College vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo College or Sierra 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 Sierra College than Cabrillo College ($10,285 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 46.1% lower than at Cabrillo College ($13,631 vs. $25,281).
• Sierra College is 13.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cabrillo College (about $176 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 582% higher at Cabrillo College than at Sierra College (about $8,416 more per year; $9,862.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at Sierra College (85% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cabrillo College students is 11.9% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($5,600 vs. $5,006).

Cabrillo College vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

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

Cabrillo College vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo College and Sierra 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 $4,100 more per year than Sierra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $36,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cabrillo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 32%)

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.