How much does Saddleback College cost?

At Saddleback College, the average net price (after aid) is about $4,152 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Saddleback College?

Saddleback College enrolls approximately 17,684 undergraduate students.

Where is Saddleback College located?

Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, CA.

Saddleback College: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, CApublicsaddleback.edu

Avg net price

$4,152

Earnings (10 yr)

$50,874

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Saddleback College is a top-ranked California community college known for its open-access admissions, strong academic programs, and exceptional student outcomes—particularly in wage gains post-graduation. With a 100% acceptance rate and a focus on affordability, it serves over 20,000 students, many of whom transfer to four-year universities or enter high-demand local industries.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 17,684
In-state tuition: $1,156
Out-of-state tuition: $11,860
Enrollment: 20,764
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 28%
Full-Time Students: 30%
Average Annual Cost: $4,152
Median Earnings (1yr): $31,115
Median Earnings (5yr): $54,295
Federal Grant Aid (Avg): $6,025
Institutional Grant Aid (Avg): $1,710

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $50,874
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 12.3×
Median debt at graduation: $9,500
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 45%
Pell (lower-income) share: 96%
First-generation share: 41%
Endowment / student: $493

Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 1
Per 1,000 students: 0.06

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 255
Summer high: 81°F
Winter low: 48°F
Annual rain: 20.7"
Natural-hazard risk: Very High

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 27
Scholarly works: 224

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.2%
Bottom → top quintile: 16%
From bottom quintile: 7%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

How much does Saddleback College cost?: At Saddleback College, the average net price (after aid) is about $4,152 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Saddleback College?: Saddleback College enrolls approximately 17,684 undergraduate students.
Where is Saddleback College located?: Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, CA.

Admissions

Saddleback College maintains an open admissions policy, accepting 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility criteria like being 18+ years old or holding a high school diploma (or equivalent). Unlike selective universities, Saddleback doesn't consider standardized test scores, demonstrated interest, or early decision applications—its mission is accessibility. The college enrolled 20,764 students recently, with 30% attending full-time.

No barriers: Admission is guaranteed for anyone meeting age or education requirements ([source](https://www.saddleback.edu/apply-pay/admissions-records)).
No selectivity: All 2,931 applicants in a recent cycle were accepted ([source](https://www.petersons.com/college-search/saddleback-college-000_10004384.aspx)).
Commuter-heavy: Most students live off-campus, reflecting the college's role as a local educational hub ([source](https://www.communitycollegereview.com/saddleback-college-profile)).

saddleback.edu petersons.com communitycollegereview.com

Academics

Saddleback offers 100+ programs across five schools, with standout pathways in Advanced Manufacturing, Accounting, and American Sign Language. It’s repeatedly ranked among the top 10 community colleges nationally for academic rigor and outcomes, including by WalletHub. The college emphasizes practical, career-ready education alongside transfer preparation for California universities.

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Saddleback College

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