Head-to-head · 2026
Irvine Valley College vs Santiago Canyon College
Compare average net price ($2,090 at Irvine Valley College; $2,129 at Santiago Canyon College), ROI score (58.80 vs 52.79), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($49,156 vs $44,956), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Irvine Valley College; Open / not reported at Santiago Canyon College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Irvine Valley College | Santiago Canyon College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 58.80 ✓ | 52.79 |
| Avg net price | $2,090 ✓ | $2,129 |
| 4-year avg net price | $8,360 ✓ | $8,516 |
| In-state tuition | $1,156 | $1,164 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $11,860 | $9,612 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $49,156 ✓ | $44,956 |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 57.1% ✓ | 47.6% |
| Retention rate | 79.1% ✓ | 70.7% |
| Median debt | $6,500 | $5,125 ✓ |
| Enrollment | 10,286 | 10,579 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Irvine Valley College | Santiago Canyon College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $734 | -$219 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $785 | $454 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $3,941 ✓ | $4,833 |
| Family income $75–110k | $7,906 ✓ | $9,373 |
| Family income $110k+ | $9,432 ✓ | $11,014 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Irvine Valley College | Santiago Canyon College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 48.9% | 55.2% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 5.7% | 6.3% |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Accounting and Related Services | 6.9% | 2% |
| Psychology, General | 2.2% | 4.5% |
| Real Estate | 5.1% | 1% |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians | 0.1% | 4.3% |
| Mathematics | 2.4% | 1.3% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Irvine Valley College reports the lower average net price by $39 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $156 difference over four years ($8,360 vs $8,516).
Irvine Valley College reports $4,200 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($49,156 vs $44,956). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 79.1% at Irvine Valley College and 70.7% at Santiago Canyon College. Median federal debt among completers is $6,500 vs $5,125, respectively.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Irvine Valley College vs Santiago Canyon College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Irvine Valley College is cheaper — average net price $2,090 per year vs $2,129 at Santiago Canyon College. The annual difference of $39 adds up to about $156 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Irvine Valley College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $49,156 vs $44,956 at Santiago Canyon College. The gap in the federal data is $4,200. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.