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Allan Hancock College SBCC CMC Mt. San Jacinto CCD| Cuesta College | College of the Desert | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cuesta College | College of the Desert | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | Palm Desert, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,908 | 10,382 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cuesta.edu | collegeofthedesert.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cuesta College | College of the Desert | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,288 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,296 | $9,100 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,784 | $17,784 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,507 | $13,704 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,559 | $6,758 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 85% |
Admission |
Cuesta College | College of the Desert | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 13, 2024 |
Academics |
Cuesta College | College of the Desert | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 27:1 | 26:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Cuesta College | College of the Desert | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,800 | $35,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 51% | 35% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $11,250 | $5,338 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $116 | $55 |
Diversity |
Cuesta College | College of the Desert | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 49% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 51% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 20% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 27% | 68% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Cuesta College | College of the Desert | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 2% | ||
Campus |
Cuesta College | College of the Desert | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- College of the Desert is larger than than Cuesta College based on total student enrollment (10,382 students vs. 9,908 students)
Cuesta College vs. College of the Desert Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or College of the Desert?
- Cuesta College and College of the Desert cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.2% higher at Cuesta College than College of the Desert ($9,296.00 vs. $9,100.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of the Desert than Cuesta College ($13,704 vs. $14,507)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Desert are 0% lower than costs at Cuesta College ($17,784 vs. $17,784)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cuesta College than College of the Desert (86% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Desert students is 48.2% larger than aid received Cuesta College ($6,758 vs. $4,559)
Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or College of the Desert? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between College of the Desert or Cuesta College .
Cuesta College vs. College of the Desert Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cuesta College or College of the Desert? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between College of the Desert and Cuesta College.
- Graduates from Cuesta College earn on average $5,700 more per year than College of the Desert graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $35,100)
- College of the Desert students graduate with a $5,912 lower median federal student loan debt than Cuesta College graduates. ($5,338 vs. $11,250)
- College of the Desert graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than Cuesta College graduates. ($55 vs. $116)
- More Cuesta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Desert students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 35%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/