Irvine Valley College vs. SAC

Deciding between Irvine Valley College and Santa Ana 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.

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Irvine Valley College Irvine, CA
  • SAC Santa Ana, CA
  • Setting
  • Irvine Valley College Midsize City
  • SAC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Irvine Valley College 13,018
  • SAC 27,248
  • Type
  • Irvine Valley College Public 2 Year
  • SAC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Irvine Valley College
  • SAC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Irvine Valley College -
  • SAC -
  • Status
  • Irvine Valley College Non-profit
  • SAC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Irvine Valley College
  • SAC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Irvine Valley College $1,156
  • SAC $1,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Irvine Valley College $11,860
  • SAC $10,756
  • Room & Board
  • Irvine Valley College $25,769
  • SAC $22,126
  • Average Net Price
  • Irvine Valley College $5,821
  • SAC $5,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Irvine Valley College $7,254
  • SAC $6,768
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Irvine Valley College 55%
  • SAC 89%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Irvine Valley College -
  • SAC -
  • Admitted
  • Irvine Valley College -
  • SAC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Irvine Valley College Open
  • SAC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Irvine Valley College Open
  • SAC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Irvine Valley College
  • SAC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Irvine Valley College
  • SAC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Irvine Valley College -
  • SAC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Irvine Valley College -
  • SAC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Irvine Valley College Unavailable
  • SAC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Irvine Valley College
  • SAC
  • ACT Range
  • Irvine Valley College
  • SAC
  • SAT Range
  • Irvine Valley College
  • SAC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Irvine Valley College Open admission
  • SAC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Irvine Valley College
  • SAC Apr 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Irvine Valley College 31:1
  • SAC 33:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Irvine Valley College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (72%)
    • Business (11%)
    • General Studies (3%)
    • Psychology (2%)
    • Work and Family Studies (2%)
  • SAC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Work and Family Studies (2%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Irvine Valley College -
  • SAC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Irvine Valley College $41,200
  • SAC $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Irvine Valley College 44%
  • SAC 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Irvine Valley College $6,000
  • SAC $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Irvine Valley College $62
  • SAC $77
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Irvine Valley College 52%
  • SAC 58%
  • % Women
  • Irvine Valley College 48%
  • SAC 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Irvine Valley College Very High
  • SAC High
  • HBCU
  • Irvine Valley College No
  • SAC No
  • % White
  • Irvine Valley College 34%
  • SAC 21%
  • % Asian
  • Irvine Valley College 25%
  • SAC 8%
  • % Black
  • Irvine Valley College 2%
  • SAC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Irvine Valley College 25%
  • SAC 50%
  • % Native American
  • Irvine Valley College 0%
  • SAC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Irvine Valley College 0%
  • SAC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Irvine Valley College 5%
  • SAC 1%
  • % International
  • Irvine Valley College 7%
  • SAC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Irvine Valley College 1%
  • SAC 15%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Irvine Valley College 88%
  • SAC 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Irvine Valley College 0%
  • SAC 0%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Irvine Valley College No
  • SAC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Irvine Valley College No
  • SAC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Irvine Valley College No
  • SAC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Irvine Valley College Yes
  • SAC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Irvine Valley College Yes
  • SAC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Irvine Valley College in Irvine, CA with Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Ana College is larger than Irvine Valley College based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 13,018 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Ana College is in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting).
  • Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Irvine Valley College 31:1; Santa Ana College 33:1.

Irvine Valley College vs. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley College or SAC? 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 SAC ($5,821 vs. $5,894).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Ana College are 14.1% lower than at Irvine Valley College ($22,126 vs. $25,769).
  • Santa Ana College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $24 more per year; $1,180.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at Irvine Valley College than at Santa Ana College (about $1,104 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,756.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at Irvine Valley College (89% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 7.2% larger than aid received by Santa Ana College students ($7,254 vs. $6,768).

Irvine Valley College vs. SAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Irvine Valley College or SAC? 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 SAC 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; SAC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027.

Irvine Valley College vs. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley College and SAC? 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 $3,700 more per year than SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than SAC graduates ($6,000 vs. $7,500).
  • Among borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SAC graduates ($62 vs. $77).
  • More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Irvine Valley College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 44%)

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.