MJC vs. SBCC

Deciding between Modesto Junior College and Santa Barbara City College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Modesto Junior College
Santa Barbara City College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MJC Modesto, CA
  • SBCC Santa Barbara, CA
  • Setting
  • MJC Midsize City
  • SBCC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MJC 18,258
  • SBCC 12,334
  • Type
  • MJC Public 2 Year
  • SBCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MJC
  • SBCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MJC -
  • SBCC -
  • Status
  • MJC Non-profit
  • SBCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MJC
  • SBCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MJC $1,282
  • SBCC $1,240
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MJC $9,264
  • SBCC $10,432
  • Room & Board
  • MJC $22,086
  • SBCC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • MJC $5,605
  • SBCC $14,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MJC $5,984
  • SBCC $5,889
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MJC 73%
  • SBCC 41%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MJC -
  • SBCC -
  • Admitted
  • MJC -
  • SBCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MJC Open
  • SBCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • MJC Open
  • SBCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • MJC
  • SBCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • MJC
  • SBCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • MJC -
  • SBCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MJC -
  • SBCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • MJC Unavailable
  • SBCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • MJC
  • SBCC
  • ACT Range
  • MJC
  • SBCC
  • SAT Range
  • MJC
  • SBCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MJC Open admission
  • SBCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • MJC Jun 30, 2027
  • SBCC Aug 19, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MJC 32:1
  • SBCC 24:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MJC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Agriculture (8%)
  • SBCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (54%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Social Sciences (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MJC -
  • SBCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MJC $34,000
  • SBCC $40,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MJC -
  • SBCC 39%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MJC N/A
  • SBCC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MJC N/A
  • SBCC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MJC 40%
  • SBCC 45%
  • % Women
  • MJC 60%
  • SBCC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MJC High
  • SBCC High
  • HBCU
  • MJC No
  • SBCC No
  • % White
  • MJC 38%
  • SBCC 41%
  • % Asian
  • MJC 6%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % Black
  • MJC 4%
  • SBCC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • MJC 47%
  • SBCC 33%
  • % Native American
  • MJC 1%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MJC 1%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MJC 1%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % International
  • MJC 0%
  • SBCC 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MJC 2%
  • SBCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MJC 98%
  • SBCC 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MJC 0%
  • SBCC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MJC No
  • SBCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MJC No
  • SBCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • MJC No
  • SBCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MJC No
  • SBCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • MJC No
  • SBCC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Modesto Junior College in Modesto, CA with Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Modesto Junior College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (18,258 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Modesto Junior College is located in Modesto, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
  • Modesto Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Modesto Junior College 32:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

MJC vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MJC or SBCC? 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 Modesto Junior College than SBCC ($5,605 vs. $14,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Modesto Junior College and SBCC ($22,086).
  • Modesto Junior College is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $42 more per year; $1,282.00 vs. $1,240.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at SBCC than at Modesto Junior College (about $1,168 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,264.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Modesto Junior College than at Santa Barbara City College (73% vs. 41%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Modesto Junior College students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($5,984 vs. $5,889).

MJC vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MJC or SBCC? 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 SBCC and MJC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MJC - Open admission; SBCC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MJC Jun 30, 2027; SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

MJC vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MJC and SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than MJC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.