Foothill College vs. Mission College

Comparable Facts

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

Foothill College is larger than Mission College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 6,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Foothill College vs. Mission College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill College or Mission 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 Mission College than Foothill College ($7,646 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 41.2% lower than at Mission College ($20,793 vs. $35,361).
• Foothill College is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mission College (about $127 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,438.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Foothill College than at Mission College (about $90 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $12,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mission College than at Foothill College (78% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mission College students is 14.1% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($4,820 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Mission College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Foothill College or Mission 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 Mission 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; Mission College - Open admission.

Foothill College vs. Mission College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill College and Mission 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $17,400 more per year than Mission College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Mission College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Foothill College students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.