Mt. SAC vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mt San Antonio College in Walnut, CA with Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mt San Antonio College is larger than Pasadena City College based on total student enrollment (29,971 students vs. 24,597 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mt San Antonio College is located in Walnut, CA (Large Suburban setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Mt San Antonio College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mt San Antonio College 26:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Mt. SAC vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mt. SAC 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 Mt. SAC ($6,888 vs. $8,516).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 24.1% lower than at Mt San Antonio College ($19,431 vs. $25,587).
• Mt San Antonio College is 15.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $184 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at Mt. SAC than at Pasadena City College (about $644 more per year; $10,464.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pasadena City College than at Mt San Antonio College (78% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mt San Antonio College students is 2.2% larger than aid received by Pasadena City College students ($6,911 vs. $6,759).

Mt. SAC vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mt. SAC 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 Mt. SAC.

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

Mt. SAC vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mt. SAC 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 Mt San Antonio College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,100 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mt San Antonio College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Pasadena City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,500).
• Among borrowers, Mt. SAC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pasadena City College graduates ($46 vs. $56).
• More Mt. SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.