SAC vs. San Diego City College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Ana College is larger than San Diego City College based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 13,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Ana College is located in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting); San Diego City College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Ana College 33:1; San Diego City College 22:1.

SAC vs. San Diego City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SAC or San Diego City 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 San Diego City College ($5,894 vs. $10,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Ana College are 29.2% lower than at San Diego City College ($22,126 vs. $31,243).
• Santa Ana College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego City College (about $34 more per year; $1,180.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at SAC than at San Diego City College (about $754 more per year; $10,756.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at San Diego City College (89% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego City College students is 55.1% larger than aid received by Santa Ana College students ($10,500 vs. $6,768).

SAC vs. San Diego City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SAC or San Diego City 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 San Diego City 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; San Diego City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027.

SAC vs. San Diego City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SAC and San Diego City 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 Santa Ana College earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than San Diego City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than SAC graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SAC graduates ($46 vs. $77).
• More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego City College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.