Chaffey College vs. Cuesta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, CA with Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Chaffey College is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (22,460 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Cuesta College is in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Chaffey College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chaffey College 25:1; Cuesta College 27:1.

Chaffey College vs. Cuesta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chaffey College 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 Chaffey College than Cuesta College ($7,809 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 11.8% lower than at Chaffey College ($22,086 vs. $25,038).
• Cuesta College is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chaffey College (about $166 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at Chaffey College than at Cuesta College (about $110 more per year; $11,120.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chaffey College than at Cuesta College (87% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chaffey College students is 39.7% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,787 vs. $4,143).

Chaffey College vs. Cuesta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chaffey College 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 Chaffey College.

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

Chaffey College vs. Cuesta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chaffey College 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 $5,500 more per year than Chaffey College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chaffey 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.