Foothill College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Foothill College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Foothill College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill College or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($10,805 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 5.9% lower than at Santa Barbara City College ($20,793 vs. $22,086).
• Foothill College is 26.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $325 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.7% higher at Foothill College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $2,158 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Foothill College than at Santa Barbara City College (67% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 39.5% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($5,889 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Foothill College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Foothill College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill College and SBCC? 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 $19,000 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Foothill College graduates have a $528 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($8,972 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Foothill College graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($92 vs. $98).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 39%)

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.