Cuesta College vs. Delta

Comparable Facts

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

San Joaquin Delta College is larger than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (20,969 students vs. 11,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Joaquin Delta College is in Stockton, CA (Large City setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Delta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; San Joaquin Delta College 45:1.

Cuesta College vs. Delta Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or Delta? 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 San Joaquin Delta College than Cuesta College ($3,293 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Delta College are 2.2% lower than at Cuesta College ($21,600 vs. $22,086).
• Cuesta College is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Delta (about $170 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at Cuesta College than at San Joaquin Delta College (about $1,238 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $9,772.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuesta College than at San Joaquin Delta College (75% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Delta College students is 52.3% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($6,311 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. Delta Admissions comparison

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

Cuesta College vs. Delta Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and Delta? 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 $5,900 more per year than Delta graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Joaquin Delta College graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($7,000 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, Delta graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($72 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Delta students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 24%)

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.