Cuyamaca College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, CA with Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Orange Coast College is larger than Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca College or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College ($7,752 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 13.3% lower than at Cuyamaca College ($19,159 vs. $22,086).
• Orange Coast College is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cuyamaca College (about $46 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,346.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at Orange Coast College than at Cuyamaca College (about $326 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $11,314.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at Orange Coast College (81% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 50.1% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($8,246 vs. $5,493).

Cuyamaca College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

Cuyamaca College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca College and Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Orange Coast College graduates ($46 vs. $67).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.