Cerritos College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA with Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pasadena City College is larger than Cerritos College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 21,859 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Cerritos College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos College or Pasadena City 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 Cerritos College than Pasadena City College ($4,325 vs. $6,888).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 12% lower than at Cerritos College ($19,431 vs. $22,088).
• Cerritos College is 15.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $184 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.2% higher at Cerritos College than at Pasadena City College (about $2,184 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Pasadena City College (89% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 14.1% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($6,759 vs. $5,925).

Cerritos College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerritos College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College and Cerritos College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerritos College - Open admission; Pasadena City College - Open admission.

Cerritos College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos College and Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Cerritos College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cerritos College graduates ($56 vs. $62).
• More Pasadena City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 35%)

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.