San Diego City College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego City College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (13,242 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego City College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• San Diego City 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: San Diego City College 22:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

San Diego City College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego City 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 San Diego City College than SBCC ($10,040 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego City College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Santa Barbara City College is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego City College (about $94 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at SBCC than at San Diego City College (about $430 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego City College than at Santa Barbara City College (87% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego City College students is 78.3% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($10,500 vs. $5,889).

San Diego City College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Diego City 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 San Diego City College.

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

San Diego City College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego City 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than San Diego City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($46 vs. $98).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego City College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 30%)

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.