Cuyamaca College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College than Saddleback College ($7,752 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 14.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Cuyamaca College is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $190 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at Saddleback College than at Cuyamaca College (about $546 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $11,314.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at Saddleback College (81% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 79.1% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($8,246 vs. $4,603).

Cuyamaca College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College.

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

Cuyamaca College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 $12,400 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $1,620 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($46 vs. $63).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.