Cerritos College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA with Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cerritos College is larger than Saddleback College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 20,764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Cerritos College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College ($4,325 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 14.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,088 vs. $25,769).
• Cerritos College is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $208 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at Cerritos College than at Saddleback College (about $144 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $11,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Saddleback College (89% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerritos College students is 28.7% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($5,925 vs. $4,603).

Cerritos College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerritos College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback 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; Saddleback College - Open admission.

Cerritos College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $120 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($6,000 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($62 vs. $63).
• More Saddleback 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.