CRC vs. Cuesta College

Comparable Facts

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

Cosumnes River College is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (15,744 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cosumnes River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Cuesta College is in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cosumnes River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cosumnes River College 29:1; Cuesta College 27:1.

CRC vs. Cuesta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CRC 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 Cosumnes River College than Cuesta College ($8,043 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Cosumnes River College and Cuesta College ($22,086).
• Cuesta College is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than CRC (about $62 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,288.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.6% higher at CRC than at Cuesta College (about $1,606 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cosumnes River College than at Cuesta College (92% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cosumnes River College students is 21.1% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,017 vs. $4,143).

CRC vs. Cuesta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CRC 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 CRC.

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

CRC vs. Cuesta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CRC 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 Cuesta College earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than CRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cosumnes River College graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, CRC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($98 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CRC students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 28%)

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.