Orange Coast College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than Orange Coast College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 17,096 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Orange Coast College 27:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Orange Coast College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than Orange Coast College ($6,888 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 1.4% lower than at Pasadena City College ($19,159 vs. $19,431).
• Orange Coast College is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $212 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.5% higher at Orange Coast College than at Pasadena City College (about $1,820 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pasadena City College than at Orange Coast College (78% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 23% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,759 vs. $5,493).

Orange Coast College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City 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; Pasadena City College - Open admission.

Orange Coast College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast College and Pasadena City 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 $4,300 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($5,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Orange Coast College graduates ($56 vs. $67).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 36%)

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.