Santiago Canyon College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Orange, California. It enrolls 10,579 students (a 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
78/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes59
Value98
Affordability50
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Santiago Canyon 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 Santiago Canyon 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 $2,129 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$2,129
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
11%
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)
$1,164
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,612
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,818
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
$-219
$30,001 – $48,000
$454
$48,001 – $75,000
$4,833
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,373
Over $110,000
$11,014
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
$2,49925%percentile
$5,125Medianpercentile
$6,50075%percentile
$15,00090%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 $4,750
↓ $375
No Pell $3,500
↓ $1,625
Dependent students $3,500
↓ $1,625
Independent students $5,250
↑ $125
Female students $4,750
↓ $375
Male students $4,500
↓ $625
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,500, close to what completers borrow ($5,125) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
3% of full-time students who enrolled at Santiago Canyon College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
3%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
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 Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $44,956 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,956
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$21.1 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Santiago Canyon College is home to 10,579 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students, 80% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
10,579
Part-Time
80%
First-Generation
54%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 59.1%6,250
White 25.2%2,661
Asian 6.3%668
Other 4.4%467
Black 2.1%226
International 0.9%92
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Santiago Canyon College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityOrange, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
41%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Santiago Canyon College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
51 distinct programs across
26 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 Santiago Canyon College is 34:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
34:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,440
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.0M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$120,880
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
158 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
158
100%
$120,880
Pros & Cons of Santiago Canyon College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Santiago Canyon 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
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, Santiago Canyon 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 Santiago Canyon College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Santiago Canyon College.
Is Santiago Canyon College hard to get into?
Santiago Canyon College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Santiago Canyon College?
Santiago Canyon College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Santiago Canyon College cost?
The average net price after aid at Santiago Canyon College is $2,129 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Santiago Canyon College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,956 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $2,129 per year. That's roughly 21.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Santiago Canyon College known for?
Santiago Canyon College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Santiago Canyon College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Santiago Canyon College are $44,956, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Santiago Canyon College accredited?
Yes. Santiago Canyon College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Santiago Canyon College?
Santiago Canyon College enrolls 10,579 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Santiago Canyon College?
Santiago Canyon College graduates 3% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Santiago Canyon College a public or private college?
Santiago Canyon College is a Public institution.
Where is Santiago Canyon College located?
Santiago Canyon College is located in Orange, California.
What programs does Santiago Canyon College offer?
Santiago Canyon College offers 51 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Santiago Canyon College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Santiago Canyon College is 34:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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