Saddleback College vs. Irvine Valley College? (Pasadena, Orange: transferring to, schools, community college)

[jody8423]

Which do you think is a better college in your opinion? (Just going to get my gen. ed. classes out of the way before transferring to UCI since it's so much cheaper, so not going for a specific degree really). Does one have better professors or a better educational quality, etc.. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Vinsanity]

I've only taken one class at IVC, compared to 3 years at Saddleback (don't laugh), but one thing I noticed is that the two schools pretty much present themselves as alternatives to each other, so you get the impression that the quality between them is pretty consistent. I do know that a lot of the professors I had at Saddleback concurrently taught classes at IVC.

[luckodeirish]

I agree, I would probably decide based on where you live, your commute to the school unless you plan to move close to the campus. Good luck!!

[Wurzig]

Saddleback is one of the top community colleges in the USA..(I learned this at a parent meeting almost 2 years ago)...I don't know about IVC....

Seems like I heard that IVC might have a few different subjects....such as police training, car mechanics, etc.....(not sure)..

[jody8423]

Thanks a lot for the help!

[missionhome]

Demographically, you will find more Caucasians at Saddleback College and more students with an Asian background at Irvine Valley College. Both are top community colleges in CA. Irvine Valley has the highest transfer rate to UC or CSU schools in Orange County and is 3rd in California. 57.42% of IVC students move on to a UC or CSU school. Saddleback is also great, ranking 2nd in Orange County for transfer rate to a UC or CSU school and the 12th highest in all of California at 48.98%. This is out of 110 community colleges in the state.

I think IVC has an exceptionally high transfer rate to UCI and you are guaranteed to get in if you meet certain requirements due to the two schools' agreement.

[UrsusMinor]

If you can get there, Orange Coast College is the top community college in the area. OCC has a massive number of transfers into the UC system (and also has a high rate of transfers and scholarhips into other top-ranked schools, such as USC). OCC and Pasadena City College are the two real academic titans in the community college systems of the Southland.

[AKgirlinCA]

They are essentially the same school. They are sister schools. Go to whichever one is closer. I've attended both and they are both great. Missionhome's statistics demographically are absolutely accurate.