Mendocino College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mendocino College in Ukiah, 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 Mendocino College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 4,225 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mendocino College is located in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mendocino College 16:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Mendocino College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mendocino 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 Mendocino College ($6,888 vs. $9,798).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 14.7% lower than at Pasadena City College ($16,580 vs. $19,431).
• Mendocino College is 20.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $243 more per year; $1,423.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Mendocino College than at Pasadena City College (about $183 more per year; $10,003.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mendocino College than at Pasadena City College (84% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 6.2% larger than aid received by Pasadena City College students ($7,180 vs. $6,759).

Mendocino College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mendocino College or Pasadena City College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pasadena City College and Mendocino College.

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

Mendocino College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mendocino College and Pasadena City College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Pasadena City College earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than Mendocino College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Mendocino College graduates ($5,500 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mendocino College graduates ($56 vs. $134).
• More Pasadena City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 30%)

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.