Cuesta College vs. Mt. SAC

Comparable Facts

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

Mt San Antonio College is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (29,971 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cuesta College vs. Mt. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or Mt. SAC? 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 Mt San Antonio College than Cuesta College ($8,516 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 13.7% lower than at Mt San Antonio College ($22,086 vs. $25,587).
• Mt San Antonio College is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuesta College (about $14 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Cuesta College than at Mt San Antonio College (about $546 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $10,464.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mt San Antonio College than at Cuesta College (76% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mt San Antonio College students is 66.8% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($6,911 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. Mt. SAC Admissions comparison

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

Cuesta College vs. Mt. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and Mt. SAC? 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 $1,700 more per year than Mt. SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mt San Antonio College graduates have a $6,750 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($4,500 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, Mt. SAC graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($46 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mt. SAC students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 45%)

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.