Hartnell College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Hartnell College in Salinas, 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 Hartnell College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 11,273 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Hartnell 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: Hartnell College 22:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Hartnell College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hartnell 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 Hartnell College than SBCC ($5,246 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 23.7% lower than at Hartnell College ($22,086 vs. $28,953).
• Hartnell College is 13.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $164 more per year; $1,404.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at SBCC than at Hartnell College (about $58 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $10,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartnell College than at Santa Barbara City College (94% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hartnell College students is 6.4% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,263 vs. $5,889).

Hartnell College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

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

Hartnell College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hartnell 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 $4,100 more per year than Hartnell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $36,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hartnell College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.