DVC vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA with West Valley College in Saratoga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Diablo Valley College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (17,228 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Diablo Valley College is located in Pleasant Hill, CA (Large Suburban setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Diablo Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Diablo Valley College 25:1; West Valley College 29:1.

DVC vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC or West Valley 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 West Valley College than DVC ($7,270 vs. $11,001).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Diablo Valley College are 34.3% lower than at West Valley College ($23,238 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 13.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than DVC (about $178 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.6% higher at DVC than at West Valley College (about $1,618 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Diablo Valley College (81% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Valley College students is 8.2% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($4,806 vs. $4,441).

DVC vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC or West Valley 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 West Valley 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; West Valley College - Open admission.

DVC vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC and West Valley 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 $3,700 more per year than West Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Valley College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 45%)

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.