Orange Coast College vs. Solano College

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than Solano College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 9,282 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Orange Coast College vs. Solano College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast College or Solano 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 Solano Community College than Orange Coast College ($7,102 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 13.3% lower than at Solano Community College ($19,159 vs. $22,086).
• Orange Coast College is 18.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Solano College (about $220 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,172.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.6% higher at Orange Coast College than at Solano Community College (about $1,828 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $9,812.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Solano Community College than at Orange Coast College (85% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 20% larger than aid received by Solano Community College students ($5,493 vs. $4,579).

Orange Coast College vs. Solano College Admissions comparison

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

Orange Coast College vs. Solano College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast College and Solano 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 $2,100 more per year than Solano College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $3,303 lower median loan debt than Solano College graduates ($6,500 vs. $9,803).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Solano College graduates ($67 vs. $101).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Solano College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 27%)

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.