Cuyamaca College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca College or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($7,752 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Cuyamaca College and SBCC ($22,086).
• Cuyamaca College is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $106 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at Cuyamaca College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $882 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at Santa Barbara City College (81% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 40% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($8,246 vs. $5,889).

Cuyamaca College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuyamaca College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Cuyamaca College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca College and SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($46 vs. $98).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.