College of the Canyons vs. Cuesta College

Comparable Facts

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

College of the Canyons is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (18,075 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Cuesta College is in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of the Canyons is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Canyons 25:1; Cuesta College 27:1.

College of the Canyons vs. Cuesta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons than Cuesta College ($5,760 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at College of the Canyons and Cuesta College ($22,086).
• Cuesta College is 15.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Canyons (about $184 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,166.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at Cuesta College than at College of the Canyons (about $52 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $10,958.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Canyons than at Cuesta College (83% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Canyons students is 11% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($4,597 vs. $4,143).

College of the Canyons vs. Cuesta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons.

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

College of the Canyons vs. Cuesta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Cuesta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Canyons graduates have a $1,053 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($10,197 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, College of the Canyons graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($105 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Canyons students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.