Cuesta College vs. Mt. San Jacinto CCD

Comparable Facts

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

Mt San Jacinto Community College District is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (17,627 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 Jacinto Community College District is in San Jacinto, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; Mt San Jacinto Community College District 32:1.

Cuesta College vs. Mt. San Jacinto CCD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or Mt. San Jacinto CCD? 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 Jacinto Community College District than Cuesta College ($8,449 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Cuesta College and Mt. San Jacinto CCD ($22,086).
• Mt San Jacinto Community College District is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuesta College (about $98 more per year; $1,448.00 vs. $1,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.6% higher at Mt. San Jacinto CCD than at Cuesta College (about $1,718 more per year; $12,728.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mt San Jacinto Community College District than at Cuesta College (87% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mt San Jacinto Community College District students is 23.8% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,128 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. Mt. San Jacinto CCD Admissions comparison

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

Cuesta College vs. Mt. San Jacinto CCD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and Mt. San Jacinto CCD? 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 $7,900 more per year than Mt. San Jacinto CCD graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mt. San Jacinto CCD students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 31%)

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.