Foothill College vs. SAC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Ana College is larger than Foothill College based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Ana College is in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Santa Ana College 33:1.

Foothill College vs. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill College or SAC? 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 Santa Ana College than Foothill College ($5,894 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 6% lower than at Santa Ana College ($20,793 vs. $22,126).
• Foothill College is 32.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SAC (about $385 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.1% higher at Foothill College than at Santa Ana College (about $1,834 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $10,756.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at Foothill College (89% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Ana College students is 60.3% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($6,768 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. SAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Foothill College or SAC? 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 SAC 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; SAC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027.

Foothill College vs. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill College and SAC? 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 $21,900 more per year than SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Ana College graduates have a $1,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($7,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, SAC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($77 vs. $92).
• More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Foothill College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.