Mission College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mission College in Santa Clara, 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 Mission College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 6,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mission College is located in Santa Clara, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mission College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mission College 26:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Mission College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mission 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 Mission College than Saddleback College ($7,646 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saddleback College are 27.1% lower than at Mission College ($25,769 vs. $35,361).
• Mission College is 24.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $282 more per year; $1,438.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Mission College than at Saddleback College (about $640 more per year; $12,500.00 vs. $11,860.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mission College than at Saddleback College (78% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mission College students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($4,820 vs. $4,603).

Mission College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

Mission College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mission College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Mission College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Mission College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saddleback College students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 46%)

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.