Foothill College vs. Mendocino College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA with Mendocino College in Ukiah, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Foothill College is larger than Mendocino College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 4,225 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Mendocino College is in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Mendocino College 16:1.

Foothill College vs. Mendocino College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill College or Mendocino 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 Mendocino College than Foothill College ($9,798 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 20.3% lower than at Foothill College ($16,580 vs. $20,793).
• Foothill College is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mendocino College (about $142 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,423.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.9% higher at Foothill College than at Mendocino College (about $2,587 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $10,003.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mendocino College than at Foothill College (84% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 70% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($7,180 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Mendocino College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Foothill College or Mendocino College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mendocino College and Foothill College.

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

Foothill College vs. Mendocino College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill College and Mendocino College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Foothill College earn a median of about $30,000 more per year than Mendocino College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Foothill College graduates have a $4,028 lower median loan debt than Mendocino College graduates ($8,972 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, Foothill College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mendocino College graduates ($92 vs. $134).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.