LMC vs. SBCC

Deciding between Los Medanos College and Santa Barbara City College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Barbara City College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • LMC Pittsburg, CA
  • SBCC Santa Barbara, CA
  • Setting
  • LMC Midsize Suburban
  • SBCC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • LMC 8,455
  • SBCC 12,334
  • Type
  • LMC Public 2 Year
  • SBCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • LMC
  • SBCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • LMC -
  • SBCC -
  • Status
  • LMC Non-profit
  • SBCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • LMC
  • SBCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • LMC $1,312
  • SBCC $1,240
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • LMC $10,320
  • SBCC $10,432
  • Room & Board
  • LMC $23,238
  • SBCC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • LMC $9,860
  • SBCC $14,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • LMC $5,109
  • SBCC $5,889
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • LMC 83%
  • SBCC 41%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • LMC -
  • SBCC -
  • Admitted
  • LMC -
  • SBCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • LMC Open
  • SBCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • LMC Open
  • SBCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • LMC
  • SBCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • LMC
  • SBCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • LMC -
  • SBCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • LMC -
  • SBCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • LMC Unavailable
  • SBCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • LMC
  • SBCC
  • ACT Range
  • LMC
  • SBCC
  • SAT Range
  • LMC
  • SBCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • LMC Open admission
  • SBCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • LMC Aug 9, 2027
  • SBCC Aug 19, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • LMC 23:1
  • SBCC 24:1
  • Popular Majors
  • LMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (37%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (11%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Business (7%)
  • SBCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (54%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Social Sciences (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • LMC -
  • SBCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • LMC $40,700
  • SBCC $40,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • LMC 43%
  • SBCC 39%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • LMC N/A
  • SBCC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • LMC N/A
  • SBCC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • LMC 43%
  • SBCC 45%
  • % Women
  • LMC 57%
  • SBCC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • LMC Very High
  • SBCC High
  • HBCU
  • LMC No
  • SBCC No
  • % White
  • LMC 28%
  • SBCC 41%
  • % Asian
  • LMC 9%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % Black
  • LMC 15%
  • SBCC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • LMC 38%
  • SBCC 33%
  • % Native American
  • LMC 0%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • LMC 1%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • LMC 8%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % International
  • LMC 0%
  • SBCC 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • LMC 1%
  • SBCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • LMC 94%
  • SBCC 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • LMC 0%
  • SBCC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • LMC No
  • SBCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • LMC No
  • SBCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • LMC No
  • SBCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • LMC Yes
  • SBCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • LMC Yes
  • SBCC No

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than LMC based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 8,455 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Los Medanos College is located in Pittsburg, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
  • Los Medanos 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: Los Medanos College 23:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

LMC vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC 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 Los Medanos College than SBCC ($9,860 vs. $14,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 5% lower than at Los Medanos College ($22,086 vs. $23,238).
  • Los Medanos College is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $72 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,240.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at SBCC than at Los Medanos College (about $112 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $10,320.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Medanos College than at Santa Barbara City College (83% vs. 41%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 15.3% larger than aid received by Los Medanos College students ($5,889 vs. $5,109).

LMC vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LMC 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 LMC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LMC - Open admission; SBCC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: LMC Aug 9, 2027; SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

LMC vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC 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 Los Medanos College earn a median of about $300 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,700 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More LMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.