Cuesta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto

Comparable Facts

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

Cuesta College is larger than San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 598 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Joaquin Valley College Modesto is in Salida, California (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Valley College Modesto is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; San Joaquin Valley College Modesto 50:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto? 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-Modesto ($16,541 vs. $25,950).
• In-state tuition differs between Cuesta College and San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto ($1,350.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between Cuesta College and San Joaquin Valley College Modesto ($11,010.00 vs. $0.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Joaquin Valley College Modesto than at Cuesta College (76% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Valley College Modesto students is 35.1% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,598 vs. $4,143).

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

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

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

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