Cerritos College vs. Pierce College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA with Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cerritos College is larger than Pierce College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 16,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); Los Angeles Pierce College is in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Los Angeles Pierce College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; Los Angeles Pierce College 30:1.

Cerritos College vs. Pierce College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos College or Pierce 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 Cerritos College than Pierce College ($4,325 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 13.1% lower than at Los Angeles Pierce College ($22,088 vs. $25,407).
• Cerritos College is 10.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce College (about $126 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at Cerritos College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (about $1,432 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (89% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students is 8% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($6,398 vs. $5,925).

Cerritos College vs. Pierce College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerritos College or Pierce 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 Pierce College and Cerritos College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerritos College - Open admission; Pierce College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

Cerritos College vs. Pierce College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos College and Pierce 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 Los Angeles Pierce College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Pierce College graduates ($6,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($62 vs. $108).
• More Cerritos College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 33%)

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.