City College of San Francisco vs. Cuyamaca College

Comparable Facts

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

City College of San Francisco is larger than Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (19,267 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Cuyamaca College is in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City College of San Francisco 24:1; Cuyamaca College 28:1.

City College of San Francisco vs. Cuyamaca College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco or Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College than City College of San Francisco ($7,752 vs. $9,616).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 17.9% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($22,086 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 26% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuyamaca College (about $350 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,346.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.5% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Cuyamaca College (about $3,342 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $11,314.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at City College of San Francisco (81% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 12.7% larger than aid received by City College of San Francisco students ($8,246 vs. $7,318).

City College of San Francisco vs. Cuyamaca College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco or Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca 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; Cuyamaca College - Open admission.

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

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco and Cuyamaca 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 $9,100 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than City College of San Francisco graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of San Francisco graduates ($46 vs. $85).
• More City College of San Francisco graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 36%)

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.