Cerritos College vs. Foothill College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA with Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cerritos College is larger than Foothill College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); Foothill College is in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; Foothill College 26:1.

Cerritos College vs. Foothill College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos College or Foothill 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 Cerritos College than Foothill College ($4,325 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 5.9% lower than at Cerritos College ($20,793 vs. $22,088).
• Foothill College is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cerritos College (about $201 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,364.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Foothill College than at Cerritos College (about $586 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $12,004.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Foothill College (89% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerritos College students is 40.3% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($5,925 vs. $4,223).

Cerritos College vs. Foothill College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerritos College or Foothill 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 Foothill College and Cerritos College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerritos College - Open admission; Foothill College - Open admission.

Cerritos College vs. Foothill College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos College and Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $24,400 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $2,972 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($6,000 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($62 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 35%)

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.