Fullerton College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than Fullerton College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 19,521 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fullerton College 25:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Fullerton College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College ($8,122 vs. $8,306).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 14.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Saddleback College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $6 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Fullerton College than at Saddleback College (about $519 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $11,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at Saddleback College (87% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fullerton College students is 15.2% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($5,301 vs. $4,603).

Fullerton College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College.

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

Fullerton College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 $7,000 more per year than Fullerton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fullerton College 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.