SBCC vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Barbara City College 24:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

SBCC vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SBCC or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College than SBCC ($8,669 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 4.3% lower than at Las Positas College ($22,086 vs. $23,076).
• Santa Barbara City College is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $72 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at SBCC than at Las Positas College (about $624 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Las Positas College than at Santa Barbara City College (71% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 53.4% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($5,889 vs. $3,839).

SBCC vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SBCC or Las Positas 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 Las Positas 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; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027; Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

SBCC vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SBCC and Las Positas 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 Las Positas College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Las Positas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.