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Irvine Valley College Orange Coast College Allan Hancock College SCC Fullerton College SAC SBCC Golden West College MiraCosta College Palomar College East Los Angeles College Cypress College| Cuesta College | Saddleback College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cuesta College | Saddleback College | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Mission Viejo, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 9,908 | 16,660 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cuesta.edu | saddleback.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cuesta College | Saddleback College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,296 | $9,768 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,784 | $20,452 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,507 | $6,940 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,559 | $5,062 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 64% |
Admission |
Cuesta College | Saddleback College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 13, 2025 |
Academics |
Cuesta College | Saddleback College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 27:1 | 24:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Cuesta College | Saddleback College | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,800 | $44,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 51% | 46% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $11,250 | $6,120 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $116 | $63 |
Diversity |
Cuesta College | Saddleback College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 49% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 51% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 54% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 27% | 25% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Cuesta College | Saddleback College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Cuesta College | Saddleback College | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Saddleback College is larger than than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (16,660 students vs. 9,908 students)
Cuesta College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or Saddleback College?
- Cuesta College is 16.7% more expensive to attend than Saddleback College for in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.1% higher at Saddleback College than Cuesta College ($9,768.00 vs. $9,296.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saddleback College than Cuesta College ($6,940 vs. $14,507)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 15% lower than costs at Saddleback College ($17,784 vs. $20,452)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cuesta College than Saddleback College (86% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Saddleback College students is 11% larger than aid received Cuesta College ($5,062 vs. $4,559)
Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or Saddleback College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Saddleback College or Cuesta College .
Cuesta College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cuesta College or Saddleback College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Saddleback College and Cuesta College.
- Graduates from Saddleback College earn on average $3,500 more per year than Cuesta College graduates after ten years. ($44,300 vs. $40,800)
- Saddleback College students graduate with a $5,130 lower median federal student loan debt than Cuesta College graduates. ($6,120 vs. $11,250)
- Saddleback College graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than Cuesta College graduates. ($63 vs. $116)
- More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saddleback College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/