Cuesta College

Highway 1
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
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Tel: (805) 546-3100
www.cuesta.edu
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  • Cuesta College is a premier community college providing accessible, high quality education that focuses on student success, lifelong learning, and community vitality.

School Highlights

Cuesta College serves 11,024 students (29% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 43:1 is lower than the state community college average of 45:1.
Minority enrollment is 48% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 75%.

School Overview

The teacher population of 259 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Cuesta College(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie ClassificationAssociate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/NontraditionalAssociate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Vocational & Technical-High Traditional
Institution LevelAt least 2 but less than 4 yearsAt least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution ControlPublicPublic
Total Faculty259 staff149 staff
This chart display total faculty of Cuesta College and community college average number of faculty in CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Cuesta College has grown by 19% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 43:1 has increased from 35:1 over five years.
The Cuesta College diversity score of 0.63 is less than the state average of 0.73. The school's diversity has grown by 24% over five years.
Total Enrollment11,024 students8,598 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Cuesta College and community college average number of enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio43:145:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Cuesta College and community college average student staff ratio of CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
# Full-Time Students3,190 students2,015 students
This chart display the total number of Full-Time students enrollment of Cuesta College and average number of community college Full-Time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
# Part-Time Students7,834 students6,583 students
This chart display the total number of Part-Time students enrollment of Cuesta College and average number of community college Part-Time students enrollment of CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
This chart display the Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Cuesta College. This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of CA.
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
1%
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Cuesta College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% Asian
3%
12%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Cuesta College and the percentage of Asian community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% Hispanic
31%
43%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Cuesta College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% Black
2%
7%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Cuesta College and the percentage of Black community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% White
52%
25%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Cuesta College and the percentage of White community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% Two or more races
5%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Cuesta College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% Non Resident races
5%
4%
This chart display the percentage of Non Resident students in Cuesta College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% Unknown races
1%
4%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Cuesta College. This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in CA.
Diversity Score0.630.73
This chart display the diversity score of Cuesta College and the community college average diversity score of CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
College Completion Rate
33%
31%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-Time students of Cuesta College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-Time students of CA by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)$38,700$34,600
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Cuesta College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of CA by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition Cost and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $1,234 is less than the state average of $1,458. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $6,408 is less than the state average of $6,710. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees$1,234$1,458
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Cuesta College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees$6,408$6,710
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Cuesta College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid77%76%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Cuesta College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in CA by year, with the latest 2018-19 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates$10,500$10,063
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Cuesta College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts$7,334$5,751
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Cuesta College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in CA by year, with the latest 2017-18 school year data.
Source: 2019 (or latest year available) IPEDS

School Notes

  • Cuesta College makes lifelong learning happen. We enable students to achieve their academic, transfer, workforce preparation, career advancement, and personal goals. Building on our tradition of excellence, we serve our community by providing programs and services that produce students who can succeed in a diverse and rapidly changing society, participate effectively in their local communities, and live responsible and rewarding lives. As a learning college, we provide a supportive environment for students and employees, assess student and institutional outcomes, improve performance, forge strategic partnerships, and maximize opportunities for learning. Cuesta College is located at the heart of scenic San Luis Obispo County, and is highly regarded throughout the state for its excellent educational programs, responsive student services and exceptional faculty and staff. In 1996 the college received a Silver Medal Eureka Award for Quality and Service Excellence. Most courses offered through Cuesta College's Distance Education program are fully accredited and transfer to other four year institutions. All courses are equivalent to the classroom-based version in course content, textbooks, required assignments and study time. The only difference is that the delivery method in a distance education course is different. The Cuesta College Foundation was incorporated in 1973 for the purpose of providing essential financial support for Cuesta College programs, services, scholarships, and capital needs.

Nearby Schools

The nearest community college to Cuesta College is Laurus College (1.6 miles away).
  • College Location Mi. Students
  • Laurus College
    Private for-profit
    926 students | 1.60 Mi81 Higuera St Ste 110
    San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    (805) 267-1690     1.60926
  • Allan Hancock College
    Public
    11,285 students | 27.70 Mi800 South College Drive
    Santa Maria, CA 93454
    (805) 922-6966     27.7011,285
  • Santa Barbara Business College-Santa Maria
    Private for-profit
    86 students | 27.70 Mi303 E Plaza Dr Ste 1
    Santa Maria, CA 93454
    (805) 922-8256     27.7086
  • West Hills College-Coalinga
    Public
    4,623 students | 61.70 Mi300 Cherry Lane
    Coalinga, CA 93210
    (559) 934-2000     61.704,623
  • Santa Barbara City College
    Public
    14,646 students | 82.20 Mi721 Cliff Drive
    Santa Barbara, CA 93109
    (805) 965-0581     82.2014,646
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Quick Stats (2021-22)
  • Students: 11,024 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,234
  • Out-state tuition: $6,408
  • Student:teacher ratio: 43:1
  • Minority enrollment: 48%
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Did You Know?
For California public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $1,458 per year for in-state students and $6,710 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,155 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in California is 84%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

California community colleges have a diversity score of 0.73, which is equal to the national average of 0.73. The most diverse community college in California is Coastline Community College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.
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