Fullerton College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than Orange Coast College based on total student enrollment (19,521 students vs. 17,096 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fullerton College 25:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Fullerton College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than Orange Coast College ($8,306 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 13.3% lower than at Fullerton College ($19,159 vs. $22,086).
• Orange Coast College is 21% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $242 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at Fullerton College than at Orange Coast College (about $739 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at Orange Coast College (87% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 3.6% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($5,493 vs. $5,301).

Fullerton College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

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

Fullerton College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 $4,900 more per year than Fullerton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fullerton College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 39%)

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.