Cuesta College vs. Berkeley City College

Comparable Facts

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

Cuesta College is larger than Berkeley City College based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 6,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Berkeley City College is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Berkeley City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Berkeley City College 33:1.

Cuesta College vs. Berkeley City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College than Cuesta College ($12,695 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 3.2% lower than at Berkeley City College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Cuesta College is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Berkeley City College (about $92 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at Cuesta College than at Berkeley City College (about $1,112 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuesta College than at Berkeley City College (75% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berkeley City College students is 30.9% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,422 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. Berkeley City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College and Cuesta College.

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

Cuesta College vs. Berkeley City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and Berkeley City 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 $2,600 more per year than Berkeley City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berkeley City College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 35%)

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.