Columbia Junior College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Sonora, 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 Columbia Junior College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 2,828 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA (Remote Town setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 21:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Columbia Junior College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia Junior College 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 Columbia Junior College ($8,122 vs. $12,358).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 14.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Columbia College is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $126 more per year; $1,282.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28% higher at Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than at Columbia College (77% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 32.9% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,119 vs. $4,603).

Columbia Junior College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

Columbia Junior College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia Junior College 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 $13,900 more per year than Columbia Junior College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 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.