Chaffey College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

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

Chaffey College is larger than Orange Coast College based on total student enrollment (22,460 students vs. 17,096 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Chaffey College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chaffey College 25:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Chaffey College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College than Orange Coast College ($7,809 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 23.5% lower than at Chaffey College ($19,159 vs. $25,038).
• Orange Coast College is 17.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chaffey College (about $208 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at Orange Coast College than at Chaffey College (about $520 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $11,120.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chaffey College than at Orange Coast College (87% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chaffey College students is 5.4% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($5,787 vs. $5,493).

Chaffey College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

Chaffey College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chaffey 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 $6,900 more per year than Chaffey College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Orange Coast 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.