Foothill College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Foothill College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; West Valley College 29:1.

Foothill College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill College or West Valley 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 West Valley College than Foothill College ($7,270 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 41.2% lower than at West Valley College ($20,793 vs. $35,361).
• Foothill College is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than West Valley College (about $75 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,490.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.7% higher at Foothill College than at West Valley College (about $3,888 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Foothill College (81% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Valley College students is 13.8% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($4,806 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Foothill College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill College and West Valley 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 $18,300 more per year than West Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Valley College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 45%)

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.