Hartnell College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Hartnell College in Salinas, 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 Hartnell College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 11,273 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA (Midsize City setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Hartnell College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hartnell College 22:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Hartnell College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hartnell 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 Hartnell College than Orange Coast College ($5,246 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 33.8% lower than at Hartnell College ($19,159 vs. $28,953).
• Hartnell College is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Orange Coast College (about $12 more per year; $1,404.00 vs. $1,392.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Orange Coast College than at Hartnell College (about $1,266 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartnell College than at Orange Coast College (94% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hartnell College students is 14% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,263 vs. $5,493).

Hartnell College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

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

Hartnell College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hartnell 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 $5,900 more per year than Hartnell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $36,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hartnell College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 27%)

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.