Orange Coast College vs. SAC

Comparable Facts

Compare Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA with Santa Ana College in Santa Ana, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Ana College is larger than Orange Coast College based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 17,096 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Ana College is in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting).
• Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Orange Coast College 27:1; Santa Ana College 33:1.

Orange Coast College vs. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast College or SAC? 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 Ana College than Orange Coast College ($5,894 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 13.4% lower than at Santa Ana College ($19,159 vs. $22,126).
• Orange Coast College is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than SAC (about $212 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Orange Coast College than at Santa Ana College (about $884 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,756.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at Orange Coast College (89% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Ana College students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,768 vs. $5,493).

Orange Coast College vs. SAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast College or SAC? 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 SAC 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; SAC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027.

Orange Coast College vs. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast College and SAC? 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than SAC graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SAC graduates ($67 vs. $77).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SAC students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 47%)

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.