Fresno City College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Fresno City College in Fresno, CA with Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fresno City College is larger than Saddleback College based on total student enrollment (28,071 students vs. 20,764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fresno City College is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fresno City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fresno City College 29:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Fresno City College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fresno City 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 Fresno City College ($8,122 vs. $9,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno City College are 30.2% lower than at Saddleback College ($17,982 vs. $25,769).
• Fresno City College is 15.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $178 more per year; $1,334.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.8% higher at Saddleback College than at Fresno City College (about $1,706 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,154.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fresno City College than at Saddleback College (92% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fresno City College students is 56.6% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($7,210 vs. $4,603).

Fresno City College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fresno City 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 Fresno City College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fresno City College - Open admission; Saddleback College - Open admission.

Fresno City College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fresno City 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $12,600 more per year than Fresno City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have a $2,275 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($3,845 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($39 vs. $63).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fresno City College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 32%)

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.