DVC vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, 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 DVC based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 17,228 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Diablo Valley College is located in Pleasant Hill, CA (Large Suburban setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Diablo Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Diablo Valley College 25:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

DVC vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC 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 Pasadena City College than DVC ($6,888 vs. $11,001).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 16.4% lower than at Diablo Valley College ($19,431 vs. $23,238).
• Diablo Valley College is 11.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $132 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at DVC than at Pasadena City College (about $500 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pasadena City College than at Diablo Valley College (78% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 52.2% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($6,759 vs. $4,441).

DVC vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC 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 DVC.

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

DVC vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC 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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 36%)

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.