Antelope Valley Community College District vs. Cuesta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Antelope Valley Community College District in Lancaster, CA with Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Antelope Valley Community College District is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (13,532 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Antelope Valley Community College District is located in Lancaster, CA (Large Suburban setting); Cuesta College is in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Antelope Valley Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Antelope Valley Community College District 23:1; Cuesta College 27:1.

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. Cuesta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Antelope Valley Community College District or Cuesta College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Antelope Valley Community College District than Cuesta College ($6,110 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Antelope Valley Community College District are 36.8% lower than at Cuesta College ($13,960 vs. $22,086).
• Cuesta College is 20.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Antelope Valley Community College District (about $226 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,124.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.3% higher at Cuesta College than at Antelope Valley Community College District (about $1,462 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $9,548.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Antelope Valley Community College District than at Cuesta College (87% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Antelope Valley Community College District students is 56.6% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($6,490 vs. $4,143).

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. Cuesta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Antelope Valley Community College District or Cuesta College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cuesta College and Antelope Valley Community College District.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Antelope Valley Community College District - Open admission; Cuesta College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027.

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. Cuesta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Antelope Valley Community College District and Cuesta College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Cuesta College earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $34,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Antelope Valley Community College District graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($11,000 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, Antelope Valley Community College District graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($113 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Antelope Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 19%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.