Columbia Junior College vs. Foothill College

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Sonora, CA with Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Foothill College is larger than Columbia Junior College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 2,828 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA (Remote Town setting); Foothill College is in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 21:1; Foothill College 26:1.

Columbia Junior College vs. Foothill College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia Junior College or Foothill 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 Foothill College than Columbia Junior College ($10,805 vs. $12,358).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 5.9% lower than at Columbia College ($20,793 vs. $22,086).
• Foothill College is 22.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia Junior College (about $283 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,282.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35.9% higher at Foothill College than at Columbia College (about $3,326 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Foothill College (74% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 44.9% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($6,119 vs. $4,223).

Columbia Junior College vs. Foothill College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia Junior College or Foothill 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 Foothill College and Columbia Junior College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia Junior College - Open admission; Foothill College - Open admission.

Columbia Junior College vs. Foothill College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia Junior College and Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $29,000 more per year than Columbia Junior College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.