Cuesta College vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

Cuesta College is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

Cuesta College vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College than Cuesta College ($8,669 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 4.3% lower than at Las Positas College ($22,086 vs. $23,076).
• Cuesta College is 15.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $182 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.3% higher at Cuesta College than at Las Positas College (about $1,202 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuesta College than at Las Positas College (75% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuesta College students is 7.9% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($4,143 vs. $3,839).

Cuesta College vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas 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; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027; Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

Cuesta College vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and Las Positas 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 Las Positas College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Cuesta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Las Positas College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 41%)

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.