LMC vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, 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 LMC based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 8,455 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Medanos College is located in Pittsburg, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Los Medanos 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 Medanos College 23:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

LMC vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC 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 LMC ($9,116 vs. $9,860).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 17.6% lower than at Los Medanos College ($19,159 vs. $23,238).
• Orange Coast College is 6.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than LMC (about $80 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.8% higher at Orange Coast College than at Los Medanos College (about $1,320 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,320.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Medanos College than at Orange Coast College (83% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Los Medanos College students ($5,493 vs. $5,109).

LMC vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LMC 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 LMC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LMC - Open admission; Orange Coast College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: LMC Aug 9, 2027.

LMC vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC 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 $1,500 more per year than LMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $40,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LMC students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 43%)

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.