SBCC vs. Berkeley City College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than Berkeley City College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 6,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting); Berkeley City College is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Berkeley City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Barbara City College 24:1; Berkeley City College 33:1.

SBCC vs. Berkeley City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SBCC or Berkeley 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 Berkeley City College than SBCC ($12,695 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 3.2% lower than at Berkeley City College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Berkeley City College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $18 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at SBCC than at Berkeley City College (about $534 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Berkeley City College than at Santa Barbara City College (74% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 8.6% larger than aid received by Berkeley City College students ($5,889 vs. $5,422).

SBCC vs. Berkeley City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SBCC or Berkeley 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 Berkeley City College and SBCC.

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

SBCC vs. Berkeley City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SBCC and Berkeley 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 Barbara City College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Berkeley City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berkeley City College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 35%)

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.