SBCC vs. FLC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than FLC based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 11,098 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting); Folsom Lake College is in Folsom, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Folsom Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Barbara City College 24:1; Folsom Lake College 29:1.

SBCC vs. FLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SBCC or FLC? 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 Folsom Lake College than SBCC ($8,982 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Santa Barbara City College and FLC ($22,086).
• Folsom Lake College is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $48 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.9% higher at FLC than at Santa Barbara City College (about $2,184 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Folsom Lake College than at Santa Barbara City College (84% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 65% larger than aid received by Folsom Lake College students ($5,889 vs. $3,570).

SBCC vs. FLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SBCC or FLC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between FLC 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; FLC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

SBCC vs. FLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SBCC and FLC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Santa Barbara City College have median earnings of about $40,400 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for FLC.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Folsom Lake College graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($7,750 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, FLC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($80 vs. $98).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FLC students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 33%)

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.