Cuesta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Comparable Facts

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

Cuesta College is larger than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 2,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is in Visalia, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; San Joaquin Valley College Visalia 28:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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-Visalia ($16,541 vs. $27,525).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia are 60.3% lower than at Cuesta College ($8,764 vs. $22,086).
• San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is 1,130.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuesta College (about $15,256 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $1,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.8% higher at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia than at Cuesta College (about $5,596 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia than at Cuesta College (85% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Valley College Visalia students is 31.1% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,430 vs. $4,143).

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 $8,700 more per year than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuesta College graduates have a $4,550 lower median loan debt than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($11,250 vs. $15,800).
• Among borrowers, Cuesta College graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($116 vs. $163).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 29%)

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.