College of Marin vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Marin in Kentfield, CA with Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Barbara City College is larger than College of Marin based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Marin is located in Kentfield, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• College of Marin is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Marin 17:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

College of Marin vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Marin or SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College than College of Marin ($14,186 vs. $14,662).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 10.4% lower than at College of Marin ($22,086 vs. $24,645).
• College of Marin is 25.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $318 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.8% higher at SBCC than at College of Marin (about $1,098 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Marin than at Santa Barbara City College (50% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Marin students is 3.9% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,117 vs. $5,889).

College of Marin vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Marin or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

College of Marin vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Marin and SBCC? 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 Marin earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Barbara City College graduates have a $4,875 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($9,500 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, SBCC graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($98 vs. $148).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Marin students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.