City College of San Francisco vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

Compare City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA with Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pasadena City College is larger than City College of San Francisco based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 19,267 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City College of San Francisco 24:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

City College of San Francisco vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than City College of San Francisco ($6,888 vs. $9,616).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 27.8% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($19,431 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 43.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $516 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.2% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Pasadena City College (about $4,836 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pasadena City College than at City College of San Francisco (78% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 8.3% larger than aid received by Pasadena City College students ($7,318 vs. $6,759).

City College of San Francisco vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College and City College of San Francisco.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of San Francisco - Open admission; Pasadena City College - Open admission.

City College of San Francisco vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco and Pasadena City 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 City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than City College of San Francisco graduates ($5,500 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of San Francisco graduates ($56 vs. $85).
• More City College of San Francisco graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 36%)

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.