Foothill College vs. San Jose City College

Comparable Facts

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

Foothill College is larger than San Jose City College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 8,609 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Foothill College vs. San Jose City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill College or San Jose 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 Foothill College than San Jose City College ($10,805 vs. $19,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 8.2% lower than at San Jose City College ($20,793 vs. $22,658).
• Foothill College is 14.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Jose City College (about $199 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,366.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at Foothill College than at San Jose City College (about $668 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $11,922.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Jose City College than at Foothill College (85% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Jose City College students is 35.3% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($5,712 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. San Jose City College Admissions comparison

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

Foothill College vs. San Jose City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill College and San Jose 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 $25,200 more per year than San Jose City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Jose City College graduates have a $3,722 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($5,250 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, San Jose City College graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($54 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Jose 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.