Cuesta College vs. Irvine Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Irvine Valley College is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (13,018 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Irvine Valley College is in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Irvine Valley College 31:1.

Cuesta College vs. Irvine Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College than Cuesta College ($5,821 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 14.3% lower than at Irvine Valley College ($22,086 vs. $25,769).
• Cuesta College is 16.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $194 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Irvine Valley College than at Cuesta College (about $850 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuesta College than at Irvine Valley College (75% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 75.1% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($7,254 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. Irvine Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Cuesta College vs. Irvine Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Cuesta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($6,000 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($62 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Irvine Valley College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 44%)

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.