IVC vs. SBCC

Deciding between Imperial Valley 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.

Santa Barbara City College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IVC Imperial, CA
  • SBCC Santa Barbara, CA
  • Setting
  • IVC Rural Fringe
  • SBCC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IVC 8,873
  • SBCC 12,334
  • Type
  • IVC Public 2 Year
  • SBCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IVC
  • SBCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IVC -
  • SBCC -
  • Status
  • IVC Non-profit
  • SBCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IVC
  • SBCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IVC $1,148
  • SBCC $1,240
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IVC $8,852
  • SBCC $10,432
  • Room & Board
  • IVC $9,153
  • SBCC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • IVC $1,890
  • SBCC $14,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IVC $9,933
  • SBCC $5,889
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IVC 91%
  • SBCC 41%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IVC 31:1
  • SBCC 24:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IVC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • SBCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (54%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Social Sciences (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IVC -
  • SBCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IVC $28,800
  • SBCC $40,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IVC -
  • SBCC 39%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IVC N/A
  • SBCC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IVC N/A
  • SBCC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IVC 46%
  • SBCC 45%
  • % Women
  • IVC 54%
  • SBCC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IVC Extremely Low
  • SBCC High
  • HBCU
  • IVC No
  • SBCC No
  • % White
  • IVC 3%
  • SBCC 41%
  • % Asian
  • IVC 0%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % Black
  • IVC 1%
  • SBCC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IVC 91%
  • SBCC 33%
  • % Native American
  • IVC 0%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IVC 0%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IVC 0%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % International
  • IVC 0%
  • SBCC 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IVC 5%
  • SBCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IVC 95%
  • SBCC 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IVC 0%
  • SBCC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Imperial Valley College in Imperial, 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 IVC based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 8,873 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Imperial Valley College is located in Imperial, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
  • Imperial Valley 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: Imperial Valley College 31:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

IVC vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IVC 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 Imperial Valley College than SBCC ($1,890 vs. $14,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Imperial Valley College are 58.6% lower than at Santa Barbara City College ($9,153 vs. $22,086).
  • Santa Barbara City College is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than IVC (about $92 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,148.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at SBCC than at Imperial Valley College (about $1,580 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $8,852.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Imperial Valley College than at Santa Barbara City College (91% vs. 41%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Imperial Valley College students is 68.7% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($9,933 vs. $5,889).

IVC vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IVC 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 IVC.

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

IVC vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IVC 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 $11,600 more per year than IVC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $28,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.