Saddleback College
A good fit for students who want a large campus community and in-state California residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 15,959 students.
About This School
Saddleback College is a public institution located in Mission Viejo, California with approximately 15,959 undergraduate students enrolled. In-state tuition is $1,432 per year. Typical graduates earn $46,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
Saddleback College is a public community college in Mission Viejo, California. It is part of the California Community College system and awards over 300 associate degrees, academic certificates, and occupational skills awards in 190 programs. Established in 1968, Saddleback is the oldest and southernmost institution governed by the South Orange County Community College District. Saddleback College is named for the saddle between the twin peaks of Santiago Peak and Modjeska Peak in the Cleveland National Forest.
Worth considering if you're looking for an affordable path to a degree or transfer in Southern California — with median debt of just $9,500 at graduation, the financial risk here is genuinely low. That said, median earnings of $46,000 a decade out are modest, so the payoff depends heavily on which of the 190+ programs you choose and whether you use it as a launchpad to a four-year school rather than a final destination. If your goal is to transfer to a UC or CSU while keeping costs down, this is a smart move; if you're expecting career earnings to surge quickly after finishing here, the data suggests tempering those expectations.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (15,959 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in California
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.