ARC vs. Pierce College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than Pierce College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 16,906 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Los Angeles Pierce College is in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Pierce College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Los Angeles Pierce College 30:1.

ARC vs. Pierce College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Pierce 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 American River College than Pierce College ($9,488 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Pierce College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• American River College is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce College (about $50 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.3% higher at ARC than at Los Angeles Pierce College (about $2,044 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (89% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students is 17.3% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,398 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. Pierce College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Pierce College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pierce College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; Pierce College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

ARC vs. Pierce College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Pierce College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Los Angeles Pierce College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Pierce College graduates have a $1,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($10,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($108 vs. $126).
• More Pierce College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 26%)

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.