Cuesta College vs. Foothill College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, 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 Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Foothill College is in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Foothill College 26:1.

Cuesta College vs. Foothill College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College ($10,805 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 5.9% lower than at Cuesta College ($20,793 vs. $22,086).
• Foothill College is 15.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuesta College (about $215 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at Foothill College than at Cuesta College (about $1,580 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuesta College than at Foothill College (75% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Foothill College students is 1.9% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($4,223 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. Foothill College Admissions comparison

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

Cuesta College vs. Foothill College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta 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 $18,600 more per year than Cuesta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Foothill College graduates have a $2,278 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($8,972 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, Foothill College graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($92 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Foothill College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 46%)

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.