College of Marin vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than College of Marin based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Marin is located in Kentfield, CA (Large Suburban setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Marin is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Marin 17:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

College of Marin vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Marin 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 Saddleback College than College of Marin ($8,122 vs. $14,662).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Marin are 4.4% lower than at Saddleback College ($24,645 vs. $25,769).
• College of Marin is 34.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $402 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.1% higher at Saddleback College than at College of Marin (about $2,526 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saddleback College than at College of Marin (77% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Marin students is 32.9% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,117 vs. $4,603).

College of Marin vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Marin 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 College of Marin.

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

College of Marin vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Marin 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 $1,800 more per year than College of Marin graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $8,255 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($6,120 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($63 vs. $148).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Marin students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 29%)

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.