SBCC vs. San Bernardino Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

San Bernardino Valley College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (14,055 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting); San Bernardino Valley College is in San Bernardino, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Bernardino Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Barbara City College 24:1; San Bernardino Valley College 25:1.

SBCC vs. San Bernardino Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SBCC or San Bernardino Valley 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 Santa Barbara City College than San Bernardino Valley College ($14,186 vs. $19,091).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Bernardino Valley College are 9.4% lower than at Santa Barbara City College ($20,000 vs. $22,086).
• Santa Barbara City College is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Bernardino Valley College (about $44 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,196.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.9% higher at San Bernardino Valley College than at Santa Barbara City College (about $3,950 more per year; $14,382.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Bernardino Valley College than at Santa Barbara City College (72% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 57.7% larger than aid received by San Bernardino Valley College students ($5,889 vs. $3,735).

SBCC vs. San Bernardino Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SBCC or San Bernardino Valley 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 San Bernardino Valley 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; San Bernardino Valley College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027; San Bernardino Valley College Aug 29, 2027.

SBCC vs. San Bernardino Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SBCC and San Bernardino Valley 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 $8,500 more per year than San Bernardino Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Bernardino Valley College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 28%)

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.