Columbia Junior College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

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

Orange Coast College is larger than Columbia Junior College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 2,828 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA (Remote Town setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 21:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Columbia Junior College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia Junior College or Orange Coast 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 Columbia Junior College ($9,116 vs. $12,358).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 13.3% lower than at Columbia College ($19,159 vs. $22,086).
• Orange Coast College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia Junior College (about $110 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,282.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.6% higher at Orange Coast College than at Columbia College (about $2,376 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia College than at Orange Coast College (74% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 11.4% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($6,119 vs. $5,493).

Columbia Junior College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia Junior College or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College and Columbia Junior College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia Junior College - Open admission; Orange Coast College - Open admission.

Columbia Junior College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia Junior College and Orange Coast 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 $11,800 more per year than Columbia Junior College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.