College of the Canyons vs. Cuyamaca College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA with Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of the Canyons is larger than Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (18,075 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Cuyamaca College is in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Canyons is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Canyons 25:1; Cuyamaca College 28:1.

College of the Canyons vs. Cuyamaca College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Canyons or Cuyamaca 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 College of the Canyons than Cuyamaca College ($5,760 vs. $7,752).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at College of the Canyons and Cuyamaca College ($22,086).
• Cuyamaca College is 15.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Canyons (about $180 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,166.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Cuyamaca College than at College of the Canyons (about $356 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Canyons than at Cuyamaca College (83% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 79.4% larger than aid received by College of the Canyons students ($8,246 vs. $4,597).

College of the Canyons vs. Cuyamaca College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Canyons or Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College and College of the Canyons.

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

College of the Canyons vs. Cuyamaca College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Canyons and Cuyamaca 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 the Canyons earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $5,697 lower median loan debt than College of the Canyons graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,197).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Canyons graduates ($46 vs. $105).
• More Cuyamaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Canyons students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 36%)

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.