Pasadena City College vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than Sierra College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 19,125 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pasadena City College 23:1; Sierra College 25:1.

Pasadena City College vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pasadena City College or Sierra 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 Sierra College ($6,888 vs. $10,285).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 29.8% lower than at Pasadena City College ($13,631 vs. $19,431).
• Sierra College is 22.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $266 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 579.1% higher at Pasadena City College than at Sierra College (about $8,374 more per year; $9,820.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sierra College than at Pasadena City College (80% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 35% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($6,759 vs. $5,006).

Pasadena City College vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pasadena City College or Sierra 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 Sierra 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; Sierra College - Open admission.

Pasadena City College vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pasadena City College and Sierra 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 Pasadena City College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Sierra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $36,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Pasadena City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 32%)

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.