Mendocino College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Comparable Facts

Compare Mendocino College in Ukiah, CA with San Joaquin Valley College Visalia in Visalia, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mendocino College is larger than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia based on total student enrollment (4,225 students vs. 2,318 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mendocino College is located in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is in Visalia, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mendocino College 16:1; San Joaquin Valley College Visalia 28:1.

Mendocino College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mendocino College or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 Mendocino College than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ($9,798 vs. $27,525).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia are 47.1% lower than at Mendocino College ($8,764 vs. $16,580).
• San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is 1,067% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mendocino College (about $15,183 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $1,423.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66% higher at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia than at Mendocino College (about $6,603 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $10,003.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia than at Mendocino College (85% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 32.2% larger than aid received by San Joaquin Valley College Visalia students ($7,180 vs. $5,430).

Mendocino College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mendocino College or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia 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; San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia - Open admission.

Mendocino College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mendocino College and San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 San Joaquin Valley College Visalia earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Mendocino College graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,100 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mendocino College graduates have a $2,800 lower median loan debt than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($13,000 vs. $15,800).
• Among borrowers, Mendocino College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($134 vs. $163).
• More Mendocino College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 29%)

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.