Orange Coast College vs. San Diego City College

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than San Diego City College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 13,242 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); San Diego City College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Orange Coast College 27:1; San Diego City College 22:1.

Orange Coast College vs. San Diego City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast College or San Diego 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 Orange Coast College than San Diego City College ($9,116 vs. $10,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 38.7% lower than at San Diego City College ($19,159 vs. $31,243).
• Orange Coast College is 21.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego City College (about $246 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.4% higher at Orange Coast College than at San Diego City College (about $1,638 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego City College than at Orange Coast College (87% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego City College students is 91.2% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($10,500 vs. $5,493).

Orange Coast College vs. San Diego City College Admissions comparison

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

Orange Coast College vs. San Diego City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast College and San Diego 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 $9,000 more per year than San Diego City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Orange Coast College graduates ($46 vs. $67).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego City College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 30%)

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.