Cuesta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield

Comparable Facts

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

Cuesta College is larger than San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield is in Bakersfield, California (Large City setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield 19:1.

Cuesta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield? 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 Cuesta College than San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield ($16,541 vs. $23,272).
• In-state tuition differs between Cuesta College and San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield ($1,350.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between Cuesta College and San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield ($11,010.00 vs. $0.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield than at Cuesta College (82% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield students is 30% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,384 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield Admissions comparison

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

Cuesta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield? 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).

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.