Cuyamaca College vs. San Diego City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, CA with San Diego City College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Diego City College is larger than Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (13,242 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego City College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; San Diego City College 22:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. San Diego City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca College or San Diego City 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 San Diego City College ($7,752 vs. $10,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego City College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Cuyamaca College is 17.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego City College (about $200 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.1% higher at Cuyamaca College than at San Diego City College (about $1,312 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego City College than at Cuyamaca College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego City College students is 27.3% larger than aid received by Cuyamaca College students ($10,500 vs. $8,246).

Cuyamaca College vs. San Diego City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuyamaca College or San Diego City 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 San Diego City 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; San Diego City College - Open admission.

Cuyamaca College vs. San Diego City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca College and San Diego City 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 San Diego City College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,200 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego City College and Cuyamaca College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, San Diego City College and Cuyamaca College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More Cuyamaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego City College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 30%)

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.