Orange Coast College vs. College of the Redwoods

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than College of the Redwoods based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 4,706 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); College of the Redwoods is in Eureka, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Redwoods is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Orange Coast College 27:1; College of the Redwoods 17:1.

Orange Coast College vs. College of the Redwoods Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast College or College of the Redwoods? 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 College of the Redwoods ($9,116 vs. $9,400).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Redwoods are 36.8% lower than at Orange Coast College ($12,117 vs. $19,159).
• Orange Coast College is 16.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Redwoods (about $194 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,198.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.5% higher at Orange Coast College than at College of the Redwoods (about $2,786 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $8,854.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Redwoods than at Orange Coast College (90% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Redwoods students is 14.5% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,288 vs. $5,493).

Orange Coast College vs. College of the Redwoods Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast College or College of the Redwoods? 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 College of the Redwoods and Orange Coast College.

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

Orange Coast College vs. College of the Redwoods Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast College and College of the Redwoods? 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 $10,100 more per year than College of the Redwoods graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $761 lower median loan debt than College of the Redwoods graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,261).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Redwoods graduates ($67 vs. $75).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Redwoods 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.