Pasadena City College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pasadena City College 23:1; West Valley College 29:1.

Pasadena City College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pasadena City College or West Valley 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 West Valley College ($6,888 vs. $7,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 45% lower than at West Valley College ($19,431 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 26.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $310 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.8% higher at Pasadena City College than at West Valley College (about $1,118 more per year; $9,820.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Pasadena City College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 40.6% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($6,759 vs. $4,806).

Pasadena City College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Pasadena City College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pasadena City College and West Valley 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.