Monterey Peninsula College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than Monterey Peninsula College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 7,173 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Monterey Peninsula College is located in Monterey, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Monterey Peninsula 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: Monterey Peninsula College 23:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Monterey Peninsula College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Monterey Peninsula College 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 Santa Barbara City College than Monterey Peninsula College ($14,186 vs. $14,483).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 37.1% lower than at Monterey Peninsula College ($22,086 vs. $35,118).
• Santa Barbara City College is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Monterey Peninsula College (about $52 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,188.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Monterey Peninsula College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $140 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Monterey Peninsula College than at Santa Barbara City College (85% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 15.7% larger than aid received by Monterey Peninsula College students ($5,889 vs. $5,088).

Monterey Peninsula College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Monterey Peninsula College 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 Monterey Peninsula College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Monterey Peninsula College - Open admission; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027; SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Monterey Peninsula College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Monterey Peninsula College 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 $1,500 more per year than Monterey Peninsula College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $38,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Monterey Peninsula College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 31%)

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.