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SMC Allan Hancock College Moorpark College Ventura College Orange Coast College De Anza College Los Angeles City College Pasadena City College San Diego Mesa College DVC Oxnard College Irvine Valley College| Cuesta College | Santa Barbara City College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cuesta College | SBCC | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Santa Barbara, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,908 | 12,675 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cuesta.edu | sbcc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cuesta College | SBCC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,296 | $8,760 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,784 | $17,784 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,507 | $14,180 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,559 | $4,496 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 64% |
Admission |
Cuesta College | SBCC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Aug 19, 2025 |
Academics |
Cuesta College | SBCC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 27:1 | 37:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Cuesta College | SBCC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,800 | $40,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 51% | 39% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $11,250 | $9,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $116 | $98 |
Diversity |
Cuesta College | SBCC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 49% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 51% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 41% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 27% | 33% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 5% | ||
| % International | 0% | 9% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Cuesta College | SBCC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Cuesta College | SBCC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Santa Barbara City College is larger than than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (12,675 students vs. 9,908 students)
Cuesta College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or SBCC?
- Cuesta College is 16.7% more expensive to attend than SBCC for in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.1% higher at Cuesta College than Santa Barbara City College ($9,296.00 vs. $8,760.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Barbara City College than Cuesta College ($14,180 vs. $14,507)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 0% lower than costs at Cuesta College ($17,784 vs. $17,784)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cuesta College than Santa Barbara City College (86% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cuesta College students is 1.4% larger than aid received Santa Barbara City College ($4,559 vs. $4,496)
Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or SBCC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SBCC or Cuesta College .
Cuesta College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cuesta College or SBCC? 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 SBCC and Cuesta College.
- Graduates from Cuesta College earn on average $400 more per year than SBCC graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $40,400)
- Santa Barbara City College students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Cuesta College graduates. ($9,500 vs. $11,250)
- SBCC graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Cuesta College graduates. ($98 vs. $116)
- More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 39%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/