Foothill College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than Foothill College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Foothill College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College ($8,122 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 19.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($20,793 vs. $25,769).
• Foothill College is 35.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $409 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Foothill College than at Saddleback College (about $730 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $11,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saddleback College than at Foothill College (77% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saddleback College students is 9% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($4,603 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

Foothill College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than Saddleback College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $2,852 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($6,120 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($63 vs. $92).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Foothill College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.