Pierce College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland 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 Pierce College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 16,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Los Angeles Pierce 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 Pierce College 30:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Pierce College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce 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 Pierce College ($9,116 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 24.6% lower than at Los Angeles Pierce College ($19,159 vs. $25,407).
• Orange Coast College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce 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 Pierce College (about $1,068 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Pierce College than at Orange Coast College (71% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students is 16.5% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,398 vs. $5,493).

Pierce College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pierce College - Open admission; Orange Coast College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

Pierce College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce 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 $2,400 more per year than Pierce College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Pierce College graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College graduates ($67 vs. $108).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 33%)

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.