Pasadena City College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA with Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pasadena City College is larger than Saddleback College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 20,764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pasadena City College 23:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Pasadena City College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than Saddleback College ($6,888 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 24.6% lower than at Saddleback College ($19,431 vs. $25,769).
• Pasadena City College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $24 more per year; $1,180.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.8% higher at Saddleback College than at Pasadena City College (about $2,040 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pasadena City College than at Saddleback College (78% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 46.8% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,759 vs. $4,603).

Pasadena City College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College.

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

Pasadena City College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pasadena City 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 $6,400 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $620 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($56 vs. $63).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.