Cuyamaca College vs. East Los Angeles College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, CA with East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Los Angeles College is larger than Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (33,677 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); East Los Angeles College is in Monterey Park, CA (Small City setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. East Los Angeles College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; East Los Angeles College 33:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. East Los Angeles College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca College or East 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 Cuyamaca College than East Los Angeles College ($7,752 vs. $11,700).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 13.1% lower than at East Los Angeles College ($22,086 vs. $25,407).
• Cuyamaca College is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than East Los Angeles College (about $108 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Cuyamaca College than at East Los Angeles College (about $742 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Los Angeles College than at Cuyamaca College (85% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 16.2% larger than aid received by East Los Angeles College students ($8,246 vs. $7,098).

Cuyamaca College vs. East Los Angeles College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuyamaca College or East 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 East Los Angeles College and Cuyamaca College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cuyamaca College - Open admission; East Los Angeles College - Open admission.

Cuyamaca College vs. East Los Angeles College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca College and East 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 East Los Angeles College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,400 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $1,316 lower median loan debt than East Los Angeles College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,816).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than East Los Angeles College graduates ($46 vs. $60).
• More East Los Angeles College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 36%)

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.