Coastline Community College vs. Foothill College

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, CA with Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Foothill College is larger than Coastline Community College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 9,008 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastline Community College is located in Fountain Valley, CA (Small City setting); Foothill College is in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Coastline Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Coastline Community College 39:1; Foothill College 26:1.

Coastline Community College vs. Foothill College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastline Community College or Foothill 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 Foothill College than Coastline Community College ($10,805 vs. $16,972).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 12.1% lower than at Coastline Community College ($20,793 vs. $23,659).
• Foothill College is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastline Community College (about $201 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,364.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Foothill College than at Coastline Community College (about $978 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $11,612.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Coastline Community College than at Foothill College (70% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Coastline Community College students is 29.2% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($5,455 vs. $4,223).

Coastline Community College vs. Foothill College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastline Community College or Foothill 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 Foothill College and Coastline Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Coastline Community College - Open admission; Foothill College - Open admission.

Coastline Community College vs. Foothill College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastline Community College and Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $18,800 more per year than Coastline Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $40,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have a $3,722 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($5,250 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Coastline Community College graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($54 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastline Community College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.