Cuesta College vs. West Los Angeles College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA with West Los Angeles College in Culver City, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cuesta College is larger than West Los Angeles College based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 9,255 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); West Los Angeles College is in Culver City, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuesta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Los Angeles College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuesta College 27:1; West Los Angeles College 26:1.

Cuesta College vs. West Los Angeles College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or West Los Angeles College? 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 West Los Angeles College than Cuesta College ($11,164 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 13.1% lower than at West Los Angeles College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• Cuesta College is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than West Los Angeles College (about $112 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Cuesta College than at West Los Angeles College (about $438 more per year; $11,010.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Los Angeles College than at Cuesta College (83% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Los Angeles College students is 41.4% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($5,857 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. West Los Angeles College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or West Los Angeles College? 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 West Los Angeles College 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; West Los Angeles College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027; West Los Angeles College Jun 1, 2027.

Cuesta College vs. West Los Angeles College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta College and West Los Angeles College? 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 $5,100 more per year than West Los Angeles College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, West Los Angeles College graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, West Los Angeles College graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($98 vs. $116).
• More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Los Angeles College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 26%)

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.