SBCC vs. Skyline College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than Skyline College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 9,572 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting); Skyline College is in San Bruno, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Skyline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Barbara City College 24:1; Skyline College 29:1.

SBCC vs. Skyline College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SBCC or Skyline 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 Skyline College than SBCC ($6,639 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 29.4% lower than at Skyline College ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• Skyline College is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $32 more per year; $1,272.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at SBCC than at Skyline College (about $476 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,956.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Skyline College than at Santa Barbara City College (79% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Skyline College students ($5,889 vs. $4,341).

SBCC vs. Skyline College Admissions comparison

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

SBCC vs. Skyline College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SBCC and Skyline 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 Skyline College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,300 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Skyline College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.