SAC vs. SBCC

Deciding between Santa Ana College and Santa Barbara City College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Barbara City College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SAC Santa Ana, CA
  • SBCC Santa Barbara, CA
  • Setting
  • SAC Large City
  • SBCC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SAC 27,248
  • SBCC 12,334
  • Type
  • SAC Public 2 Year
  • SBCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SAC
  • SBCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SAC -
  • SBCC -
  • Status
  • SAC Non-profit
  • SBCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SAC
  • SBCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SAC $1,180
  • SBCC $1,240
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SAC $10,756
  • SBCC $10,432
  • Room & Board
  • SAC $22,126
  • SBCC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • SAC $5,894
  • SBCC $14,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SAC $6,768
  • SBCC $5,889
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SAC 89%
  • SBCC 41%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SAC -
  • SBCC -
  • Admitted
  • SAC -
  • SBCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SAC Open
  • SBCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • SAC Open
  • SBCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • SAC
  • SBCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • SAC
  • SBCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • SAC -
  • SBCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SAC -
  • SBCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • SAC Unavailable
  • SBCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • SAC
  • SBCC
  • ACT Range
  • SAC
  • SBCC
  • SAT Range
  • SAC
  • SBCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SAC Open admission
  • SBCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • SAC Apr 1, 2027
  • SBCC Aug 19, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SAC 33:1
  • SBCC 24:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SAC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Work and Family Studies (2%)
  • SBCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (54%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Social Sciences (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SAC -
  • SBCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SAC $37,500
  • SBCC $40,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SAC 47%
  • SBCC 39%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SAC $7,500
  • SBCC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SAC $77
  • SBCC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SAC 58%
  • SBCC 45%
  • % Women
  • SAC 42%
  • SBCC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SAC High
  • SBCC High
  • HBCU
  • SAC No
  • SBCC No
  • % White
  • SAC 21%
  • SBCC 41%
  • % Asian
  • SAC 8%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % Black
  • SAC 1%
  • SBCC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • SAC 50%
  • SBCC 33%
  • % Native American
  • SAC 0%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SAC 0%
  • SBCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SAC 1%
  • SBCC 5%
  • % International
  • SAC 1%
  • SBCC 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SAC 15%
  • SBCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SAC 96%
  • SBCC 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SAC 0%
  • SBCC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SAC No
  • SBCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SAC No
  • SBCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • SAC No
  • SBCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SAC Yes
  • SBCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • SAC Yes
  • SBCC No

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Ana College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Ana College is located in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
  • Santa Ana 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: Santa Ana College 33:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

SAC vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SAC 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 Santa Ana College than SBCC ($5,894 vs. $14,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 0.2% lower than at Santa Ana College ($22,086 vs. $22,126).
  • Santa Barbara City College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SAC (about $60 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,180.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at SAC than at Santa Barbara City College (about $324 more per year; $10,756.00 vs. $10,432.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at Santa Barbara City College (89% vs. 41%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Ana College students is 14.9% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,768 vs. $5,889).

SAC vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SAC 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 SAC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SAC - Open admission; SBCC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027; SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

SAC vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SAC 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 $2,900 more per year than SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Ana College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($7,500 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, SAC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($77 vs. $98).
  • More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.