College of Marin vs. Solano College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Marin in Kentfield, CA with Solano Community College in Fairfield, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Solano Community College is larger than College of Marin based on total student enrollment (9,282 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

College of Marin vs. Solano College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Marin or Solano 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 Solano Community College than College of Marin ($7,102 vs. $14,662).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Solano Community College are 10.4% lower than at College of Marin ($22,086 vs. $24,645).
• College of Marin is 32.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Solano College (about $386 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,172.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at Solano College than at College of Marin (about $478 more per year; $9,812.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Solano Community College than at College of Marin (85% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Marin students is 33.6% larger than aid received by Solano Community College students ($6,117 vs. $4,579).

College of Marin vs. Solano College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Marin or Solano 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 Solano 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; Solano College - Open admission.

College of Marin vs. Solano College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Marin and Solano 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 Marin earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Solano College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Solano Community College graduates have a $4,572 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($9,803 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, Solano College graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($101 vs. $148).
• More College of Marin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Solano College students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 27%)

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.