Fullerton College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (19,521 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Fullerton 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: Fullerton College 25:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Fullerton College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than SBCC ($8,306 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Fullerton College and SBCC ($22,086).
• Santa Barbara City College is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $90 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at Fullerton College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $1,947 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at Santa Barbara City College (87% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 11.1% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($5,889 vs. $5,301).

Fullerton College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

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

Fullerton College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Fullerton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Fullerton College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.