Saddleback College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Saddleback 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: Saddleback College 27:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Saddleback College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than SBCC ($8,122 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 14.3% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Santa Barbara City College is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $84 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at Saddleback College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $1,428 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saddleback College than at Santa Barbara City College (77% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 27.9% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($5,889 vs. $4,603).

Saddleback College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saddleback 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 Saddleback College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saddleback College - Open admission; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Saddleback College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $3,380 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($6,120 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($63 vs. $98).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.