Cuesta College vs. DVC

Deciding between Cuesta College and Diablo Valley College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CA
  • DVC Pleasant Hill, CA
  • Setting
  • Cuesta College Rural Fringe
  • DVC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cuesta College 11,283
  • DVC 17,228
  • Type
  • Cuesta College Public 2 Year
  • DVC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cuesta College
  • DVC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cuesta College -
  • DVC -
  • Status
  • Cuesta College Non-profit
  • DVC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cuesta College
  • DVC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cuesta College $1,350
  • DVC $1,312
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cuesta College $11,010
  • DVC $10,320
  • Room & Board
  • Cuesta College $22,086
  • DVC $23,238
  • Average Net Price
  • Cuesta College $16,541
  • DVC $11,001
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cuesta College $4,143
  • DVC $4,441
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cuesta College 75%
  • DVC 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cuesta College -
  • DVC -
  • Admitted
  • Cuesta College -
  • DVC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cuesta College Open
  • DVC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Cuesta College Open
  • DVC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cuesta College
  • DVC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cuesta College
  • DVC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cuesta College -
  • DVC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cuesta College -
  • DVC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cuesta College Unavailable
  • DVC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cuesta College
  • DVC
  • ACT Range
  • Cuesta College
  • DVC
  • SAT Range
  • Cuesta College
  • DVC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cuesta College Open admission
  • DVC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027
  • DVC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cuesta College 27:1
  • DVC 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cuesta College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (2%)
  • DVC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Work and Family Studies (14%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cuesta College -
  • DVC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cuesta College $40,800
  • DVC $44,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cuesta College 51%
  • DVC 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cuesta College $11,250
  • DVC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cuesta College $116
  • DVC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cuesta College 49%
  • DVC 49%
  • % Women
  • Cuesta College 51%
  • DVC 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cuesta College Medium
  • DVC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cuesta College No
  • DVC No
  • % White
  • Cuesta College 62%
  • DVC 38%
  • % Asian
  • Cuesta College 3%
  • DVC 15%
  • % Black
  • Cuesta College 2%
  • DVC 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cuesta College 27%
  • DVC 23%
  • % Native American
  • Cuesta College 1%
  • DVC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • DVC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cuesta College 5%
  • DVC 8%
  • % International
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • DVC 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cuesta College 1%
  • DVC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cuesta College 94%
  • DVC 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • DVC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cuesta College No
  • DVC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cuesta College No
  • DVC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cuesta College No
  • DVC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cuesta College Yes
  • DVC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cuesta College Yes
  • DVC Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Diablo Valley College is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (17,228 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Diablo Valley College is in Pleasant Hill, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Diablo Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Diablo Valley College 25:1.

Cuesta College vs. DVC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or DVC? 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 Diablo Valley College than Cuesta College ($11,001 vs. $16,541).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 5% lower than at Diablo Valley College ($22,086 vs. $23,238).
  • Cuesta College is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than DVC (about $38 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,312.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Cuesta College than at Diablo Valley College (about $690 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $10,320.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuesta College than at Diablo Valley College (75% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Diablo Valley College students is 7.2% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($4,441 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. DVC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or DVC? 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 DVC 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; DVC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027.

Cuesta College vs. DVC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and DVC? 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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than Cuesta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuesta College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 51%)

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.