SBCC vs. SCC

Deciding between Santa Barbara City College and Santiago Canyon College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Santa Barbara City College
Santiago Canyon College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SBCC Santa Barbara, CA
  • SCC Orange, CA
  • Setting
  • SBCC Small City
  • SCC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SBCC 12,334
  • SCC 11,897
  • Type
  • SBCC Public 2 Year
  • SCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SBCC
  • SCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SBCC -
  • SCC -
  • Status
  • SBCC Non-profit
  • SCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SBCC
  • SCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SBCC $1,240
  • SCC $1,164
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SBCC $10,432
  • SCC $9,612
  • Room & Board
  • SBCC $22,086
  • SCC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • SBCC $14,186
  • SCC $6,573
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SBCC $5,889
  • SCC $6,580
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SBCC 41%
  • SCC 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SBCC -
  • SCC -
  • Admitted
  • SBCC -
  • SCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SBCC Open
  • SCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • SBCC Open
  • SCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • SBCC
  • SCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • SBCC
  • SCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • SBCC -
  • SCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SBCC -
  • SCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • SBCC Unavailable
  • SCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • SBCC
  • SCC
  • ACT Range
  • SBCC
  • SCC
  • SAT Range
  • SBCC
  • SCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SBCC Open admission
  • SCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • SBCC Aug 19, 2027
  • SCC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SBCC 24:1
  • SCC 34:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SBCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (54%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Social Sciences (3%)
  • SCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (63%)
    • Engineering Technology (10%)
    • Construction Trades (9%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SBCC -
  • SCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SBCC $40,400
  • SCC N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SBCC 39%
  • SCC 41%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SBCC $9,500
  • SCC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SBCC $98
  • SCC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SBCC 45%
  • SCC 64%
  • % Women
  • SBCC 55%
  • SCC 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SBCC High
  • SCC High
  • HBCU
  • SBCC No
  • SCC No
  • % White
  • SBCC 41%
  • SCC 36%
  • % Asian
  • SBCC 5%
  • SCC 7%
  • % Black
  • SBCC 4%
  • SCC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • SBCC 33%
  • SCC 47%
  • % Native American
  • SBCC 0%
  • SCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SBCC 0%
  • SCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SBCC 5%
  • SCC 4%
  • % International
  • SBCC 9%
  • SCC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SBCC 2%
  • SCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SBCC 81%
  • SCC 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SBCC 0%
  • SCC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SBCC No
  • SCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SBCC No
  • SCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • SBCC No
  • SCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SBCC Yes
  • SCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • SBCC No
  • SCC Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than SCC based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 11,897 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting); Santiago Canyon College is in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santiago Canyon College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Barbara City College 24:1; Santiago Canyon College 34:1.

SBCC vs. SCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SBCC or SCC? 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 Santiago Canyon College than SBCC ($6,573 vs. $14,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Santa Barbara City College and SCC ($22,086).
  • Santa Barbara City College is 6.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCC (about $76 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,164.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at SBCC than at Santiago Canyon College (about $820 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,612.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santiago Canyon College than at Santa Barbara City College (74% vs. 41%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santiago Canyon College students is 11.7% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,580 vs. $5,889).

SBCC vs. SCC Admissions comparison

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

SBCC vs. SCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SBCC and SCC? 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).

  • More SCC 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.