DVC vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, 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 DVC based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 17,228 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Diablo Valley College is located in Pleasant Hill, CA (Large Suburban setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Diablo Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Diablo Valley College 25:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

DVC vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC 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 DVC ($8,122 vs. $11,001).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Diablo Valley College are 9.8% lower than at Saddleback College ($23,238 vs. $25,769).
• Diablo Valley College is 13.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $156 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.9% higher at Saddleback College than at Diablo Valley College (about $1,540 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,320.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saddleback College than at Diablo Valley College (77% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saddleback College students is 3.6% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($4,603 vs. $4,441).

DVC vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC 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 DVC.

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

DVC vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC 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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of about $500 more per year than Saddleback College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saddleback College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 46%)

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.