Cuyamaca College vs. Foothill College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, CA with Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Foothill College is larger than Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Foothill College is in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Foothill College 26:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. Foothill College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca College or Foothill 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 Foothill College ($7,752 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 5.9% lower than at Cuyamaca College ($20,793 vs. $22,086).
• Foothill College is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuyamaca College (about $219 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,346.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.3% higher at Foothill College than at Cuyamaca College (about $1,276 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $11,314.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at Foothill College (81% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 95.3% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($8,246 vs. $4,223).

Cuyamaca College vs. Foothill College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuyamaca College or Foothill 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 Foothill 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; Foothill College - Open admission.

Cuyamaca College vs. Foothill College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca College and Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $27,500 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $4,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($46 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.