Mendocino College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mendocino College in Ukiah, 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 Mendocino College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 4,225 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mendocino College is located in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mendocino College 16:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Mendocino College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mendocino 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 Mendocino College ($8,122 vs. $9,798).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 35.7% lower than at Saddleback College ($16,580 vs. $25,769).
• Mendocino College is 23.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $267 more per year; $1,423.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.6% higher at Saddleback College than at Mendocino College (about $1,857 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,003.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mendocino College than at Saddleback College (84% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 56% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($7,180 vs. $4,603).

Mendocino College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mendocino College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback 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; Saddleback College - Open admission.

Mendocino College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mendocino College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $14,900 more per year than Mendocino College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $6,880 lower median loan debt than Mendocino College graduates ($6,120 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mendocino College graduates ($63 vs. $134).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.