East Los Angeles College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, CA with Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Los Angeles College is larger than Saddleback College based on total student enrollment (33,677 students vs. 20,764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Los Angeles College is located in Monterey Park, CA (Small City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• East Los Angeles College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Los Angeles College 33:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

East Los Angeles College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, East Los Angeles 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 Saddleback College than East Los Angeles College ($8,122 vs. $11,700).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Los Angeles College are 1.4% lower than at Saddleback College ($25,407 vs. $25,769).
• East Los Angeles College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $82 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Saddleback College than at East Los Angeles College (about $1,288 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Los Angeles College than at Saddleback College (85% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Los Angeles College students is 54.2% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($7,098 vs. $4,603).

East Los Angeles College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles College.

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

East Los Angeles College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for East Los Angeles 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 $9,900 more per year than East Los Angeles College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Los Angeles College graduates have a $304 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($5,816 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, East Los Angeles College graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($60 vs. $63).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former East Los Angeles College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 39%)

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.