Valley College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than Valley College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 15,999 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Valley College is located in Valley Glen, CA (Large City setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Los Angeles Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Valley College 28:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Valley College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Valley College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than Valley College ($6,888 vs. $13,550).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 23.5% lower than at Los Angeles Valley College ($19,431 vs. $25,407).
• Los Angeles Valley College is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $58 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Valley College than at Pasadena City College (about $752 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Valley College than at Pasadena City College (82% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 8.3% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Valley College students ($6,759 vs. $6,243).

Valley College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Valley College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College and Valley College.

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

Valley College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Valley College and Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Valley College graduates ($5,500 vs. $8,500).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Valley College graduates ($56 vs. $87).
• More Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 36%)

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.