Harbor College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, 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 Harbor College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 9,463 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harbor College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harbor 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 Harbor College ($9,116 vs. $14,632).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 24.6% lower than at Los Angeles Harbor College ($19,159 vs. $25,407).
• Orange Coast College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harbor College (about $154 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at Orange Coast College than at Los Angeles Harbor College (about $1,072 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,568.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Harbor College than at Orange Coast College (81% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Harbor College students is 23.2% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,765 vs. $5,493).

Harbor College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

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

Harbor College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harbor 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 $5,500 more per year than Harbor College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Harbor College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Harbor 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 Harbor College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 42%)

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.