Saddleback College Tuition, Demographics & Completion (2026)
Saddleback College is a public community college in Mission Viejo, California, with about 17,684 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $4,152 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,156. Student demographics in federal data include White (42.4%) and Hispanic or Latino (31.1%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,156
- 2024 Average Net Price: $4,152 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 17,684 34.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 47.99%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 41.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 24.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 16.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 26.6%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 35,452
- Room & Board: $25,769 annual estimate
Saddleback College: what the data shows
Common questions about Saddleback College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Saddleback College?
Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, CA (ZIP 92692-3635).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Saddleback College public or private?
Saddleback College is a Public institution.
How much does Saddleback College cost?
Published tuition: $1,156 in-state, $11,860 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $4,152.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $2,596 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $2,657 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $6,349 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $9,463 |
| $110,001+ | $10,603 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $4,624.
How big is Saddleback College?
Total enrollment: 17,684 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 35,452 students.
About 34% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Saddleback College?
150%-time completion rate: 47.99%.
First-year retention: 77.1%.
What do graduates of Saddleback College earn?
Median earnings: $36,605 six years after entry; $50,874 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $9,500.
15.23% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Saddleback College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (4,828 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (375 completions)
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies (270 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (244 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (215 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (192 completions)
- Psychology, General (186 completions)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (180 completions)
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General (149 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (136 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Saddleback College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 47.99%; median earnings $50,874 at 10 years; net price $4,152. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,156
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Saddleback College was $1,156.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$4,152
2024 Value
In 2024 Saddleback College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $4,152.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,608 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$4,152 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$4,624 4-Year In-State Tuition
$47,440 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$25,769 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$27,987 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$111,948 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Saddleback College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
15.23% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
1.28% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Saddleback College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Saddleback College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $762 | $4,694 | $9,095 |
| 2014 | $1,142 | $5,702 | $9,213 |
| 2015 | $1,326 | $5,750 | $10,899 |
| 2016 | $1,326 | $7,766 | $7,087 |
| 2017 | $1,328 | $10,568 | $7,399 |
| 2018 | $1,328 | $9,392 | $5,909 |
| 2019 | $1,330 | $9,590 | $4,246 |
| 2020 | $1,330 | $9,394 | $5,158 |
| 2021 | $1,332 | $10,292 | $5,379 |
| 2022 | $1,150 | $9,814 | $3,543 |
| 2023 | $1,432 | $13,732 | $2,976 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Saddleback College reported total enrollment of about 17,684 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 45% male and 55% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (42.4%), Hispanic or Latino (31.1%), and Asian (12.6%). About 15.23% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 41.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
34.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Saddleback College in 2024 is 17,684 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 35,452 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 42.4%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
17.60% 100% Completion Time
47.99% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 17.60% of students graduating from Saddleback College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 47% male / 53% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 63% male / 37% female
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 41% male / 59% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Saddleback College.
Return on Investment
$9,500 Median Student Debt
$50,874 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
18.67% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
2963.22% Return on Investment
1.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Saddleback College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 102 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 4,828 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 375 completions
3. Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 270 completions
4. Biological and Physical Sciences: 244 completions
5. Health Professions and Related Programs: 215 completions
6. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 192 completions
7. Psychology, General: 186 completions
8. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 180 completions
9. Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 149 completions
Most popular programs at Saddleback College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Saddleback College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Saddleback College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 26.6%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $13,477
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,075
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Saddleback College is a public institution located in Mission Viejo, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, Humanities/Humanistic Studies. Enrollment is approximately 17,684 students. Student body composition includes White (42.4%), Hispanic or Latino (31.1%), Asian (12.6%). The 150%-time completion rate is 47.99%. Approximately 15.23% of students receive Pell Grants. About 41.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Location
Mission Viejo, CA 92692-3635
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 102 distinct degree programs, Saddleback College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Saddleback College located?
Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, CA.
How much does Saddleback College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,156 and average net price is $4,152 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $25,769 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Saddleback College?
Saddleback College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 35,452 students, White (42.4%), Hispanic or Latino (31.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Saddleback College?
About 41.2% of students at Saddleback College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Saddleback College earn?
Median earnings are $36,605 six years after entry and $50,874 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Saddleback College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 48.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Saddleback College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,500.
Is Saddleback College public or private?
Saddleback College is a public institution located in Mission Viejo, CA.
Is Saddleback College an HBCU?
No. Saddleback College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Saddleback College a tribal college?
No. Saddleback College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Saddleback College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Saddleback College reports 31.1% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Saddleback College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Saddleback College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.