Columbia Junior College vs. Irvine Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Sonora, CA with Irvine Valley College in Irvine, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Irvine Valley College is larger than Columbia Junior College based on total student enrollment (13,018 students vs. 2,828 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA (Remote Town setting); Irvine Valley College is in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 21:1; Irvine Valley College 31:1.

Columbia Junior College vs. Irvine Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia Junior College or Irvine 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 Irvine Valley College than Columbia Junior College ($5,821 vs. $12,358).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 14.3% lower than at Irvine Valley College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Columbia College is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $126 more per year; $1,282.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28% higher at Irvine Valley College than at Columbia College (about $2,596 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Irvine Valley College (74% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 18.5% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($7,254 vs. $6,119).

Columbia Junior College vs. Irvine Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia Junior College or Irvine 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 Irvine Valley 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; Irvine Valley College - Open admission.

Columbia Junior College vs. Irvine Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia Junior College and Irvine 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than Columbia Junior College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 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.