College of the Canyons vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Canyons is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (18,075 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of the Canyons 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 the Canyons 25:1; West Valley College 29:1.

College of the Canyons vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons than West Valley College ($5,760 vs. $7,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Canyons are 37.5% lower than at West Valley College ($22,086 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 27.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Canyons (about $324 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,166.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.9% higher at College of the Canyons than at West Valley College (about $2,256 more per year; $10,958.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Canyons than at West Valley College (83% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Valley College students is 4.5% larger than aid received by College of the Canyons students ($4,806 vs. $4,597).

College of the Canyons vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

College of the Canyons vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than West Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Canyons students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.