Saddleback College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Mission Viejo, California. It enrolls 17,684 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
79/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes66
Value95
Affordability48
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Saddleback College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Saddleback College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $4,152 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$4,152
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
15%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,156
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,860
Room & Board (off-campus)
$25,769
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,850
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,939
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$2,596
$30,001 – $48,000
$2,657
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,349
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,463
Over $110,000
$10,603
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,75025%percentile
$9,500Medianpercentile
$10,50075%percentile
$19,63190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $8,492
↓ $1,008
No Pell $5,250
↓ $4,250
Dependent students $5,057
↓ $4,443
Independent students $9,500
—
Female students $7,000
↓ $2,500
Male students $6,500
↓ $3,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,125, less than completers ($9,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
19% of full-time students who enrolled at Saddleback College graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
19%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Saddleback College earn a median of $50,874 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$50,874
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,400, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Saddleback College is home to 17,684 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students, 66% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
17,684
Part-Time
66%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 42.4%7,503
Hispanic 31.2%5,509
Asian 12.6%2,225
Other 6.7%1,188
Black 2.4%421
International 2.1%368
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Saddleback College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbMission Viejo, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
31%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Saddleback College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
89 distinct programs across
29 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saddleback College is 26:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
26:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,859
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$8.2M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$116,929
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
258 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
258
100%
$116,929
Pros & Cons of Saddleback College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Saddleback College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Solid post-graduation earnings
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Saddleback College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saddleback College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Saddleback College.
Is Saddleback College hard to get into?
Saddleback College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Saddleback College?
Saddleback College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Saddleback College cost?
The average net price after aid at Saddleback College is $4,152 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Saddleback College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $50,874 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $4,152 per year. That's roughly 12.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Saddleback College known for?
Saddleback College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Saddleback College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Saddleback College are $50,874, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Saddleback College accredited?
Yes. Saddleback College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Saddleback College?
Saddleback College enrolls 17,684 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Saddleback College?
Saddleback College graduates 19% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Saddleback College a public or private college?
Saddleback College is a Public institution.
Where is Saddleback College located?
Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, California.
What programs does Saddleback College offer?
Saddleback College offers 89 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Saddleback College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saddleback College is 26:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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