City College of San Francisco vs. Cuesta College

Comparable Facts

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

City College of San Francisco is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (19,267 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Cuesta College is in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City College of San Francisco 24:1; Cuesta College 27:1.

City College of San Francisco vs. Cuesta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco than Cuesta College ($9,616 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 17.9% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($22,086 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 25.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuesta College (about $346 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.1% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Cuesta College (about $3,646 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuesta College than at City College of San Francisco (75% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 76.6% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($7,318 vs. $4,143).

City College of San Francisco vs. Cuesta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco.

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

City College of San Francisco vs. Cuesta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $200 more per year than Cuesta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, City College of San Francisco graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($8,250 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, City College of San Francisco graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($85 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of San Francisco students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 39%)

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.