College of Alameda vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

West Valley College is larger than College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (7,655 students vs. 6,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; West Valley College 29:1.

College of Alameda vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda or West Valley 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 West Valley College than College of Alameda ($7,270 vs. $12,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Alameda are 35.5% lower than at West Valley College ($22,820 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 18.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Alameda (about $232 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at College of Alameda than at West Valley College (about $1,196 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Alameda than at West Valley College (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Alameda students is 12% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($5,385 vs. $4,806).

College of Alameda vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

College of Alameda vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda and West Valley 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than College of Alameda graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Alameda students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.