SAC vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Ana College is larger than Saddleback College based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 20,764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Ana College is located in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Ana College 33:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

SAC vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SAC or Saddleback 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 Santa Ana College than Saddleback College ($5,894 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Ana College are 14.1% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,126 vs. $25,769).
• Santa Ana College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $24 more per year; $1,180.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at Saddleback College than at Santa Ana College (about $1,104 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,756.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at Saddleback College (89% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Ana College students is 47% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($6,768 vs. $4,603).

SAC vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SAC or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College and SAC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SAC - Open admission; Saddleback College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027.

SAC vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SAC and Saddleback 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 $6,800 more per year than SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $1,380 lower median loan debt than SAC graduates ($6,120 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SAC graduates ($63 vs. $77).
• More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saddleback College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 46%)

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.