College of Alameda vs. Cerritos College

Comparable Facts

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

Cerritos College is larger than College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 6,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); Cerritos College is in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; Cerritos College 26:1.

College of Alameda vs. Cerritos College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda or Cerritos 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 College of Alameda ($4,325 vs. $12,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 3.2% lower than at College of Alameda ($22,088 vs. $22,820).
• Cerritos College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Alameda (about $106 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.3% higher at Cerritos College than at College of Alameda (about $2,106 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at College of Alameda (89% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerritos College students is 10% larger than aid received by College of Alameda students ($5,925 vs. $5,385).

College of Alameda vs. Cerritos College Admissions comparison

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

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

College of Alameda vs. Cerritos College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda and Cerritos 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 College of Alameda earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cerritos College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Alameda students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 30%)

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.