GCC vs. SBCC

Deciding between Glendale Community College and Santa Barbara City College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Glendale Community College
Santa Barbara City College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • GCC Glendale, CA
  • SBCC Santa Barbara, CA
  • Setting
  • GCC Midsize City
  • SBCC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • GCC 12,075
  • SBCC 12,334
  • Type
  • GCC Public 2 Year
  • SBCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GCC
  • SBCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GCC -
  • SBCC -
  • Status
  • GCC Non-profit
  • SBCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GCC
  • SBCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GCC $1,191
  • SBCC $1,240
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GCC $10,935
  • SBCC $10,432
  • Room & Board
  • GCC $22,086
  • SBCC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • GCC $10,060
  • SBCC $14,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GCC $6,418
  • SBCC $5,889
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GCC 85%
  • SBCC 41%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GCC -
  • SBCC -
  • Admitted
  • GCC -
  • SBCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GCC Open
  • SBCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • GCC Open
  • SBCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • GCC
  • SBCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • GCC
  • SBCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • GCC -
  • SBCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GCC -
  • SBCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • GCC Unavailable
  • SBCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • GCC
  • SBCC
  • ACT Range
  • GCC
  • SBCC
  • SAT Range
  • GCC
  • SBCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GCC Open admission
  • SBCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • GCC
  • SBCC Aug 19, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GCC 28:1
  • SBCC 24:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • SBCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (54%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Social Sciences (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GCC -
  • SBCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GCC $38,200
  • SBCC $40,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GCC 56%
  • SBCC 39%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GCC N/A
  • SBCC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GCC N/A
  • SBCC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GCC 47%
  • SBCC 45%
  • % Women
  • GCC 53%
  • SBCC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GCC High
  • SBCC High
  • HBCU
  • GCC No
  • SBCC No
  • % White
  • GCC 45%
  • SBCC 41%
  • % Asian
  • GCC 10%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % Black
  • GCC 3%
  • SBCC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • GCC 32%
  • SBCC 33%
  • % Native American
  • GCC 0%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GCC 0%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GCC 3%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % International
  • GCC 5%
  • SBCC 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GCC 2%
  • SBCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GCC 93%
  • SBCC 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GCC 0%
  • SBCC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GCC No
  • SBCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GCC No
  • SBCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • GCC No
  • SBCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GCC No
  • SBCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • GCC Yes
  • SBCC No

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than GCC based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 12,075 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Glendale Community College is located in Glendale, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
  • Glendale Community 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: Glendale Community College 28:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

GCC vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCC 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 Glendale Community College than SBCC ($10,060 vs. $14,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Glendale Community College and SBCC ($22,086).
  • Santa Barbara City College is 4.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCC (about $49 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,191.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at GCC than at Santa Barbara City College (about $503 more per year; $10,935.00 vs. $10,432.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Glendale Community College than at Santa Barbara City College (85% vs. 41%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Glendale Community College students is 9% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,418 vs. $5,889).

GCC vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCC 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 GCC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: GCC - Open admission; SBCC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

GCC vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCC 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 $2,200 more per year than GCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More GCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.