Cerritos College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA with Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cerritos College is larger than Orange Coast College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 17,096 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Cerritos College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos College or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College ($4,325 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 13.3% lower than at Cerritos College ($19,159 vs. $22,088).
• Orange Coast College is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cerritos College (about $28 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,364.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at Cerritos College than at Orange Coast College (about $364 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Orange Coast College (89% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerritos College students is 7.9% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($5,925 vs. $5,493).

Cerritos College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerritos College or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast 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; Orange Coast College - Open admission.

Cerritos College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos College and Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($6,000 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Orange Coast College graduates ($62 vs. $67).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 35%)

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.