Foothill College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 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 Foothill College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Foothill College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Orange Coast College than Foothill College ($9,116 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 7.9% lower than at Foothill College ($19,159 vs. $20,793).
• Foothill College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Orange Coast College (about $173 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,392.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Foothill College than at Orange Coast College (about $950 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Foothill College than at Orange Coast College (67% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 30.1% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($5,493 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Foothill 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 Foothill College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Foothill College - Open admission; Orange Coast College - Open admission.

Foothill College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $17,200 more per year than Orange Coast College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $2,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($67 vs. $92).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Foothill College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 46%)

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.