Orange Coast College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Orange Coast 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: Orange Coast College 27:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Orange Coast College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College than SBCC ($9,116 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 13.3% lower than at Santa Barbara City College ($19,159 vs. $22,086).
• Orange Coast College is 12.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $152 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.6% higher at Orange Coast College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $1,208 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Orange Coast College than at Santa Barbara City College (66% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 7.2% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($5,889 vs. $5,493).

Orange Coast College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

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

Orange Coast College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($6,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($67 vs. $98).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.