Santa Ana College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Santa Ana, California. It enrolls 22,485 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 (4-Year Open / Online). 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
82/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes65
Value97
Affordability54
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Santa Ana College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Santa Ana 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 $3,133 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$3,133
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
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)
$1,180
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,756
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,126
Books & Supplies
$1,126
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,375
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
$1,970
$30,001 – $48,000
$2,385
$48,001 – $75,000
$5,278
$75,001 – $110,000
$8,575
Over $110,000
$10,160
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.
$2,00010%percentile
$2,62525%percentile
$6,871Medianpercentile
$10,92575%percentile
$20,25090%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 $5,500
↓ $1,371
No Pell $5,947
↓ $924
Dependent students $3,500
↓ $3,371
Independent students $7,500
↑ $629
Female students $6,322
↓ $549
Male students $5,500
↓ $1,371
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, close to what completers borrow ($6,871) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
11% of full-time students who enrolled at Santa Ana College graduate within six years, and 100% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
11%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
100%
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 Santa Ana College earn a median of $43,552 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,552
Earning > $25K
69%
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
$36,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,700, about 15% 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 ↑
15.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Santa Ana College is home to 22,485 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 70% are first-generation college students, 81% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
22,485
Part-Time
81%
First-Generation
70%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 52.6%11,836
White 19.1%4,290
Asian 7.4%1,673
Other 2.6%580
Black 1.6%369
International 0.7%164
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Santa Ana College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySanta Ana, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
51%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Santa Ana College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
71 distinct programs across
30 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 Santa Ana College is 32:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
32:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,320
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$14M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$118,728
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
263 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
263
100%
$118,728
Pros & Cons of Santa Ana College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Santa Ana College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Strong first-year retention
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
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Santa Ana College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Ana College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Santa Ana College.
How much does Santa Ana College cost?
The average net price after aid at Santa Ana College is $3,133 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Santa Ana College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,552 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,133 per year. That's roughly 13.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Santa Ana College known for?
Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Santa Ana College are $43,552, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Santa Ana College accredited?
Yes. Santa Ana College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Santa Ana College?
Santa Ana College enrolls 22,485 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Santa Ana College?
Santa Ana College graduates 11% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Santa Ana College a public or private college?
Santa Ana College is a Public institution.
Where is Santa Ana College located?
Santa Ana College is located in Santa Ana, California.
What programs does Santa Ana College offer?
Santa Ana College offers 71 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Santa Ana College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Santa Ana College is 32:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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Related Guides
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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90 UCD Score
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$138,687 Top Earn
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93 UCD Score
216 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$92,446 Top Earn
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90 UCD Score
152 Colleges
$480 Lowest Net
$78,988 Top Earn
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93 UCD Score
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$480 Lowest Net
$93,610 Top Earn
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93 UCD Score
187 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$90,768 Top Earn
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