Pierce College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles Pierce College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (16,906 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles Pierce 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 Pierce College 30:1; West Valley College 29:1.

Pierce College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce 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 Pierce College ($7,270 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Pierce 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 Pierce College (about $252 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.5% higher at Pierce 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 Pierce College (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students is 33.1% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($6,398 vs. $4,806).

Pierce College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pierce 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 Pierce College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pierce College - Open admission; West Valley College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

Pierce College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce 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 $1,300 more per year than Pierce College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce 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.