SBCC vs. Solano College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than Solano College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 9,282 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Santa Barbara City College is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting); Solano Community College is in Fairfield, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Solano Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Barbara City College 24:1; Solano Community College 27:1.

SBCC vs. Solano College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SBCC or Solano 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 Solano Community College than SBCC ($7,102 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Santa Barbara City College and Solano College ($22,086).
• Santa Barbara City College is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Solano College (about $68 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,172.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at SBCC than at Solano Community College (about $620 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,812.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Solano Community College than at Santa Barbara City College (85% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 28.6% larger than aid received by Solano Community College students ($5,889 vs. $4,579).

SBCC vs. Solano College Admissions comparison

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

SBCC vs. Solano College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SBCC and Solano 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 $300 more per year than Solano College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Barbara City College graduates have a $303 lower median loan debt than Solano College graduates ($9,500 vs. $9,803).
• Among borrowers, SBCC graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Solano College graduates ($98 vs. $101).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Solano College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 27%)

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.