Hartnell College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Hartnell College in Salinas, 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 Hartnell College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 11,273 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA (Midsize City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Hartnell College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hartnell College 22:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Hartnell College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hartnell 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 Hartnell College than Saddleback College ($5,246 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saddleback College are 11% lower than at Hartnell College ($25,769 vs. $28,953).
• Hartnell College is 21.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $248 more per year; $1,404.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at Saddleback College than at Hartnell College (about $1,486 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartnell College than at Saddleback College (94% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hartnell College students is 36.1% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,263 vs. $4,603).

Hartnell College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

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

Hartnell College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hartnell 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 $8,000 more per year than Hartnell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $36,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hartnell College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 27%)

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.