Foothill College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than Foothill College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Foothill College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than Foothill College ($6,888 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 6.6% lower than at Foothill College ($19,431 vs. $20,793).
• Foothill College is 32.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $385 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.2% higher at Foothill College than at Pasadena City College (about $2,770 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pasadena City College than at Foothill College (78% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 60.1% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($6,759 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

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

Foothill College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill College and Pasadena City 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 $21,500 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $3,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($5,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($56 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 36%)

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.