Fullerton College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (19,521 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fullerton College 25:1; West Valley College 29:1.

Fullerton College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College ($7,270 vs. $8,306).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 37.5% lower than at West Valley College ($22,086 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 29.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $340 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.3% higher at Fullerton College than at West Valley College (about $3,677 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at West Valley College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fullerton College students is 10.3% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($5,301 vs. $4,806).

Fullerton College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Fullerton College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than Fullerton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fullerton College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.