College of Alameda vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Alameda in Alameda, 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 College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (19,125 students vs. 6,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; Sierra College 25:1.

College of Alameda vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda ($10,285 vs. $12,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 40.3% lower than at College of Alameda ($13,631 vs. $22,820).
• Sierra College is 14.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Alameda (about $188 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 584.5% higher at College of Alameda than at Sierra College (about $8,452 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Alameda than at Sierra College (86% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Alameda students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($5,385 vs. $5,006).

College of Alameda vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Alameda 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 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; Sierra College - Open admission.

College of Alameda vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda earn a median of about $600 more per year than Sierra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $36,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Sierra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Alameda students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.