Mt. SAC vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Mt San Antonio College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (29,971 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mt San Antonio College is located in Walnut, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Mt San Antonio 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: Mt San Antonio College 26:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Mt. SAC vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mt. SAC 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 Mt San Antonio College than SBCC ($8,516 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 13.7% lower than at Mt San Antonio College ($22,086 vs. $25,587).
• Mt San Antonio College is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $124 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at Mt. SAC than at Santa Barbara City College (about $32 more per year; $10,464.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mt San Antonio College than at Santa Barbara City College (76% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mt San Antonio College students is 17.4% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,911 vs. $5,889).

Mt. SAC vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mt. SAC 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 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Mt. SAC vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mt. SAC 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 $1,300 more per year than Mt. SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mt San Antonio College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Mt. SAC graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($46 vs. $98).
• More Mt. SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 39%)

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.