SBCC vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SBCC vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SBCC or West 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 West Valley College than SBCC ($7,270 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 37.5% lower than at West Valley College ($22,086 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $250 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.9% higher at SBCC than at West Valley College (about $1,730 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Santa Barbara City College (81% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 22.5% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($5,889 vs. $4,806).

SBCC vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

SBCC vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SBCC and West 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $700 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.