Harbor College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, CA with Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saddleback College is larger than Harbor College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 9,463 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Harbor College is located in Wilmington, CA (Large City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles Harbor College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Harbor College 27:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Harbor College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harbor College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than Harbor College ($8,122 vs. $14,632).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Harbor College are 1.4% lower than at Saddleback College ($25,407 vs. $25,769).
• Los Angeles Harbor College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $82 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Saddleback College than at Los Angeles Harbor College (about $1,292 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,568.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Harbor College than at Saddleback College (81% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Harbor College students is 47% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,765 vs. $4,603).

Harbor College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harbor College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College and Harbor College.

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

Harbor College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harbor College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Harbor College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Harbor College graduates have a $1,620 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, Harbor College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($46 vs. $63).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harbor College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 42%)

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.