Orange Coast College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, 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 Orange Coast College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 17,096 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Orange Coast College 27:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Orange Coast College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast 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 Saddleback College than Orange Coast College ($8,122 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 25.7% lower than at Saddleback College ($19,159 vs. $25,769).
• Orange Coast College is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $236 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Saddleback College than at Orange Coast College (about $220 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saddleback College than at Orange Coast College (77% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 19.3% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($5,493 vs. $4,603).

Orange Coast College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Orange Coast College - Open admission; Saddleback College - Open admission.

Orange Coast College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast 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 $2,100 more per year than Orange Coast College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $380 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($6,120 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Orange Coast College graduates ($63 vs. $67).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saddleback College students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.