SBCC vs. BHCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, CA with Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Barbara City College is larger than BHCC based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 9,876 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting); Bunker Hill Community College is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Bunker Hill Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Barbara City College 24:1; Bunker Hill Community College 21:1.

SBCC vs. BHCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SBCC or BHCC? 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 Bunker Hill Community College than SBCC ($8,566 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bunker Hill Community College are 59.9% lower than at Santa Barbara City College ($8,866 vs. $22,086).
• Bunker Hill Community College is 397.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $4,928 more per year; $6,168.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.5% higher at BHCC than at Santa Barbara City College (about $680 more per year; $11,112.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bunker Hill Community College than at Santa Barbara City College (65% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bunker Hill Community College students is 8.6% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,395 vs. $5,889).

SBCC vs. BHCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SBCC or BHCC? 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 BHCC 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; BHCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

SBCC vs. BHCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SBCC and BHCC? 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 $4,000 more per year than BHCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bunker Hill Community College graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($7,250 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, BHCC graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($74 vs. $98).
• More BHCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (48% 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.