Saddleback College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saddleback College 27:1; West Valley College 29:1.

Saddleback College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saddleback 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 West Valley College than Saddleback College ($7,270 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saddleback College are 27.1% lower than at West Valley College ($25,769 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 28.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $334 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.3% higher at Saddleback College than at West Valley College (about $3,158 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Saddleback College (81% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Valley College students is 4.4% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($4,806 vs. $4,603).

Saddleback College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Saddleback College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than West Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Valley College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 45%)

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.