Cerro Coso Community College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than Cerro Coso Community College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 5,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerro Coso Community College is located in Ridgecrest, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Cerro Coso Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerro Coso Community College 24:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerro Coso Community 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 Orange Coast College than Cerro Coso Community College ($9,116 vs. $20,045).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 20.8% lower than at Cerro Coso Community College ($19,159 vs. $24,192).
• Orange Coast College is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cerro Coso Community College (about $8 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,384.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at Orange Coast College than at Cerro Coso Community College (about $386 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $11,254.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Orange Coast College than at Cerro Coso Community College (66% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 0.5% larger than aid received by Cerro Coso Community College students ($5,493 vs. $5,464).

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerro Coso Community 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 Cerro Coso Community College.

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

Cerro Coso Community College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerro Coso Community 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 $9,600 more per year than Cerro Coso Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $32,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.