Orange Coast College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Orange Coast College 27:1; West Valley College 29:1.

Orange Coast College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast College or West Valley 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 West Valley College than Orange Coast College ($7,270 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 45.8% lower than at West Valley College ($19,159 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Orange Coast College (about $98 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,392.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.8% higher at Orange Coast College than at West Valley College (about $2,938 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Orange Coast College (81% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 14.3% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($5,493 vs. $4,806).

Orange Coast College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Orange Coast College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast College and West Valley 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 $1,100 more per year than West Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Valley College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 45%)

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.