Pasadena City College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pasadena City College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pasadena City College 23:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Pasadena City College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pasadena City College or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($6,888 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 12% lower than at Santa Barbara City College ($19,431 vs. $22,086).
• Santa Barbara City College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $60 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at SBCC than at Pasadena City College (about $612 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pasadena City College than at Santa Barbara City College (78% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 14.8% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($6,759 vs. $5,889).

Pasadena City College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pasadena City College - Open admission; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Pasadena City College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pasadena City College and SBCC? 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 $2,500 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($5,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($56 vs. $98).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.