College of the Redwoods vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Redwoods in Eureka, 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 the Redwoods based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 4,706 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

College of the Redwoods vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Redwoods 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 the Redwoods ($8,122 vs. $9,400).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Redwoods are 53% lower than at Saddleback College ($12,117 vs. $25,769).
• College of the Redwoods is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $42 more per year; $1,198.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34% higher at Saddleback College than at College of the Redwoods (about $3,006 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $8,854.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Redwoods than at Saddleback College (90% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Redwoods students is 36.6% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,288 vs. $4,603).

College of the Redwoods vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Redwoods 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 the Redwoods.

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

College of the Redwoods vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Redwoods 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 $12,200 more per year than College of the Redwoods graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $1,141 lower median loan debt than College of the Redwoods graduates ($6,120 vs. $7,261).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Redwoods graduates ($63 vs. $75).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Redwoods students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 33%)

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.