Irvine Valley College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Irvine Valley College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (13,018 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Irvine Valley College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College than SBCC ($5,821 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 14.3% lower than at Irvine Valley College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Santa Barbara City College is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $84 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at Irvine Valley College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $1,428 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Irvine Valley College than at Santa Barbara City College (55% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($7,254 vs. $5,889).

Irvine Valley College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

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

Irvine Valley College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $800 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($6,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($62 vs. $98).
• More Irvine Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 39%)

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.