Cuesta College vs. GCC

Deciding between Cuesta College and Glendale Community 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.

Glendale Community College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CA
  • GCC Glendale, CA
  • Setting
  • Cuesta College Rural Fringe
  • GCC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cuesta College 11,283
  • GCC 12,075
  • Type
  • Cuesta College Public 2 Year
  • GCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cuesta College
  • GCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cuesta College -
  • GCC -
  • Status
  • Cuesta College Non-profit
  • GCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cuesta College
  • GCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cuesta College $1,350
  • GCC $1,191
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cuesta College $11,010
  • GCC $10,935
  • Room & Board
  • Cuesta College $22,086
  • GCC $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • Cuesta College $16,541
  • GCC $10,060
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cuesta College $4,143
  • GCC $6,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cuesta College 75%
  • GCC 85%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cuesta College 27:1
  • GCC 28:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cuesta College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (2%)
  • GCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cuesta College -
  • GCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cuesta College $40,800
  • GCC $38,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cuesta College 51%
  • GCC 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cuesta College $11,250
  • GCC N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cuesta College $116
  • GCC N/A

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cuesta College 49%
  • GCC 47%
  • % Women
  • Cuesta College 51%
  • GCC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cuesta College Medium
  • GCC High
  • HBCU
  • Cuesta College No
  • GCC No
  • % White
  • Cuesta College 62%
  • GCC 45%
  • % Asian
  • Cuesta College 3%
  • GCC 10%
  • % Black
  • Cuesta College 2%
  • GCC 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cuesta College 27%
  • GCC 32%
  • % Native American
  • Cuesta College 1%
  • GCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • GCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cuesta College 5%
  • GCC 3%
  • % International
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • GCC 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cuesta College 1%
  • GCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cuesta College 94%
  • GCC 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cuesta College 0%
  • GCC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Glendale Community College is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (12,075 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Glendale Community College is in Glendale, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Glendale Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Glendale Community College 28:1.

Cuesta College vs. GCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or GCC? 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 Glendale Community College than Cuesta College ($10,060 vs. $16,541).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Cuesta College and GCC ($22,086).
  • Cuesta College is 13.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCC (about $159 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,191.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Cuesta College than at Glendale Community College (about $75 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $10,935.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Glendale Community College than at Cuesta College (85% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Glendale Community College students is 54.9% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($6,418 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. GCC Admissions comparison

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

Cuesta College vs. GCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and GCC? 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 GCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More GCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuesta College students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.