Cuesta College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in San Luis Obispo, California. It enrolls 7,180 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes59
Value52
Affordability27
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Cuesta College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Cuesta College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,124 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,124
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,350
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,010
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,192
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,414
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,905
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,150
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,620
Over $110,000
$18,448
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,00010%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$13,750Medianpercentile
$11,25075%percentile
$19,41790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,954
↓ $3,796
No Pell $7,502
↓ $6,248
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $8,250
Independent students $10,500
↓ $3,250
Female students $9,500
↓ $4,250
Male students $9,500
↓ $4,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($13,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
19% of full-time students who enrolled at Cuesta College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
19%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Cuesta College earn a median of $46,047 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,047
Earning > $25K
68%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,900, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.8 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Cuesta College is home to 7,180 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students, 60% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
7,180
Part-Time
60%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 48.3%3,468
Hispanic 35.9%2,578
Other 7.4%532
Asian 3.1%224
Black 2.1%154
International 0.3%20
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Cuesta College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeSan Luis Obispo, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Cuesta College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
77 distinct programs across
32 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cuesta College is 27:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
27:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,588
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$38M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$109,027
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
134 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
134
100%
$109,027
Pros & Cons of Cuesta College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Cuesta College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Cuesta College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuesta College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Cuesta College.
Is Cuesta College hard to get into?
Cuesta College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Cuesta College?
Cuesta College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Cuesta College cost?
The average net price after aid at Cuesta College is $12,124 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cuesta College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,047 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,124 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Cuesta College known for?
Cuesta College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Cuesta College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Cuesta College are $46,047, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Cuesta College accredited?
Yes. Cuesta College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Cuesta College?
Cuesta College enrolls 7,180 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Cuesta College?
Cuesta College graduates 19% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Cuesta College a public or private college?
Cuesta College is a Public institution.
Where is Cuesta College located?
Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, California.
What programs does Cuesta College offer?
Cuesta College offers 77 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cuesta College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cuesta College is 27:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
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