Mission College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mission College in Santa Clara, 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 Mission College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 6,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mission College is located in Santa Clara, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Mission College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mission College 26:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Mission College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mission 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 Mission College ($6,888 vs. $7,646).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 45% lower than at Mission College ($19,431 vs. $35,361).
• Mission College is 21.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $258 more per year; $1,438.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.3% higher at Mission College than at Pasadena City College (about $2,680 more per year; $12,500.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Mission College as at Pasadena City College (78% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 40.2% larger than aid received by Mission College students ($6,759 vs. $4,820).

Mission College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mission 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 Mission College.

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

Mission College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mission 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 Mission College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Mission College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.