Orange Coast College vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Orange Coast College 27:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

Orange Coast College vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College than Orange Coast College ($8,669 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 17% lower than at Las Positas College ($19,159 vs. $23,076).
• Orange Coast College is 19.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $224 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at Orange Coast College than at Las Positas College (about $1,832 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Las Positas College than at Orange Coast College (71% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 43.1% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($5,493 vs. $3,839).

Orange Coast College vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College 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; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

Orange Coast College vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast College and Las Positas 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 $500 more per year than Las Positas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Las Positas College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 41%)

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.