Orange Coast College Photo #0

Orange Coast College

2701 Fairview Road
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Top-Ranked (2026-27): View Rankings
  • Orange Coast College enhances student learning by providing exemplary programs leading to the Associate of Arts degree, transfer to other institutions of higher education, occupational certificates, and continuous workforce improvement, as well as quality instruction in basic skills and English as a Second Language. Additionally, the college is a partner in contributing to the economic vitality of the community and to serving the community`s diverse needs for lifelong learning.

School Highlights

Orange Coast College serves 17,096 students (36% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 41:1 is lower than the state community college average of 44:1.
Minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 77%.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 17,096 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,288
  • Out-state tuition: $7,728
  • Student-teacher ratio: 41:1
  • Minority enrollment: 71%
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Orange Coast College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

School Overview

The teacher population of 415 teachers has declined by 50% over five years.
Orange Coast College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Year Founded
1947
Campus Size
164 acres
Total Faculty
415 staff
72 staff
School Calendar
AccreditationAccred.
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC)

Student Body

The student population of Orange Coast College has declined by 5% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 41:1 has increased from 24:1 over five years.
The Orange Coast College diversity score of 0.74 is more than the state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
17,096 students
6,850 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Student-Teacher Ratio
41:1
44:1
# Full-Time Students
6,118 students
1,034 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Part-Time Students
10,978 students
5,816 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Enrollment Undergraduate
17,096 students
2,055 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
6,118 students
967 students

Showing 2013–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
10,978 students
5,850 students
% Asian
21%
12%

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Hispanic
36%
46%

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Black
2%
7%

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% White
29%
23%

Showing 2010–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Two or more races
5%
5%
% Non Resident races
5%
1%
% Unknown races
1%
6%
Diversity Score
0.74
0.71

Showing 2011–2025. View full 19-year historical data

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
45%
42%

Showing 2015–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry (measured in 2022-2023, in 2024 dollars)
$53,930
$46,345

Points are in the dollars of their own College Scorecard release, and the colleges behind the state line differ by period. The lines do not show inflation-adjusted growth.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The public in-state tuition of $1,288 is more than the state average of $1,238. The in-state tuition has grown by 7% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $7,728 is more than the state average of $6,634. The out-state tuition has declined by 7% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,288
$1,238
Out-State Tuition Fees
$7,728
$6,634
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
67%
85%

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Median Debt for Graduates
$9,000
$10,500

Showing 2008–2020. View full 14-year historical data

Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,950
$6,272

Showing 2008–2020. View full 14-year historical data

Sports

Total Sports Offered
15 sports
Sports
BaseballBasketball
CheeringCrew
Cross CountryDiving
FootballGolf
SoccerSoftball
SwimmingTennis
Track and FieldVolleyball
Water Polo
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • Orange Coast College, located in Costa Mesa just minutes from Southern California's beautiful beaches, was founded in 1948 with an opening day enrollment of 500 students. In the years since, it has grown into one of the nation's largest and finest community colleges, enrolling more than 28,000 students each semester. Featuring exceptional facilities and the latest in computer and high-tech equipment, OCC offers more than 130 academic and career programs, including one of the nation's largest and most acclaimed public nautical programs. Nearly half the students on campus are enrolled in one of OCC's career and technical programs. Orange Coast College ranks first out of Orange Counties nine community colleges in the number of students it transfers to the University of California and California State University systems. Over the past decade, nearly 16,000 OCC students have transferred to UC and CSU campuses. OCC is a leader in transferring students to four-year universities, and nearly half of our students are enrolled in two-year career and technical programs. Orange Coast is well known for rigorously preparing students for successful transfer to the University of California, California State University, and other four-year colleges and universities. Orange Coast College enhances student learning by providing exemplary programs leading to the Associate of Arts degree, transfer to other institutions of higher education, occupational certificates, and continuous workforce improvement, as well as quality instruction in basic skills and English as a Second Language. Additionally, the college is a partner in contributing to the economic vitality of the community and to serving the community's diverse needs for lifelong learning. Just minutes from Southern California's beautiful beaches, Orange Coast College ranks as one of America's largest single-campus community colleges. More than 27,000 students enroll in classes on our beautiful 164-acre campus each semester. The college is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Orange Coast College cost?
Orange Coast College's tuition is approximately $1,288 for In-State students and $7,728 for Out-State students.
What sports does Orange Coast College offer?
Orange Coast College offers 15 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Crew, Cross Country, Diving, Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball and Water Polo.
What is Orange Coast College's ranking?
Orange Coast College ranks among the top 20% of community college in California for: Diversity in US community colleges, Largest student body and Highest median earnings 10 years after entry.

Recent Articles

Does a College’s Employer Partnership Include Hiring?
Does a College’s Employer Partnership Include Hiring?
A major employer’s logo does not promise a job. Learn how to check hiring commitments, eligibility and access before choosing a community college program.
New vs. Established Career Programs: Which Is Safer?
New vs. Established Career Programs: Which Is Safer?
Compare new and established community college career programs by checking readiness, recent outcomes, staffing and support before you commit to enrollment.
Can Your Career Credential Cross State Lines?
Can Your Career Credential Cross State Lines?
Before choosing a community college career program, check whether its credential meets licensing requirements in another state and what moving could cost.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 17,096 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,288
  • Out-state tuition: $7,728
  • Student-teacher ratio: 41:1
  • Minority enrollment: 71%
  • Source: Verified school update

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

The average community college acceptance rate in Orange County, CA is 66%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Orange County, CA community colleges have a diversity score of 0.71, which is lower than the national average of 0.74. The most diverse community college in Orange County, CA is FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Orange County. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

Quick Links