Irvine Valley College vs. CMC

Comparable Facts

Compare Irvine Valley College in Irvine, CA with Copper Mountain Community College in Joshua Tree, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Irvine Valley College is larger than CMC based on total student enrollment (13,018 students vs. 2,019 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting); Copper Mountain Community College is in Joshua Tree, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Copper Mountain Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Irvine Valley College 31:1; Copper Mountain Community College 18:1.

Irvine Valley College vs. CMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley College or CMC? 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 Irvine Valley College than CMC ($5,821 vs. $9,827).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Copper Mountain Community College are 14.3% lower than at Irvine Valley College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Copper Mountain Community College is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $234 more per year; $1,390.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at CMC than at Irvine Valley College (about $1,710 more per year; $13,570.00 vs. $11,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Copper Mountain Community College than at Irvine Valley College (93% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Copper Mountain Community College students is 3.1% larger than aid received by Irvine Valley College students ($7,478 vs. $7,254).

Irvine Valley College vs. CMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Irvine Valley College or CMC? 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 CMC and Irvine Valley College.

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

Irvine Valley College vs. CMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley College and CMC? 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than CMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Irvine Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMC students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 28%)

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.