Los Angeles City College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles, CA with West Valley College in Saratoga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Los Angeles City College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (14,611 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles City College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles City College 30:1; West Valley College 29:1.

Los Angeles City College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles City College or West Valley College? 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 West Valley College than Los Angeles City College ($7,270 vs. $11,836).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles City College are 28.1% lower than at West Valley College ($25,407 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles City College (about $252 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.5% higher at Los Angeles City College than at West Valley College (about $1,870 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Los Angeles City College (81% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles City College students is 45.5% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($6,994 vs. $4,806).

Los Angeles City College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles City College or West Valley College? 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 West Valley College and Los Angeles City College.

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

Los Angeles City College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles City College and West Valley College? 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than Los Angeles City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles City College students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 33%)

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.