Orange Coast College Tuition, Completion & Outcomes (2026)
Orange Coast College is a public certificate and vocational school in Costa Mesa, California, with about 16,091 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $7,203 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,392. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $47,348 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,392
- 2024 Average Net Price: $7,203 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 16,091 37.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 47.60%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
- First-Generation Students: 50.5%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 4.5% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 33.2%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 23,113
- Room & Board: $19,159 annual estimate
Orange Coast College: what the data shows
Common questions about Orange Coast College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Orange Coast College?
Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (ZIP 92626).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Orange Coast College public or private?
Orange Coast College is a Public institution.
How much does Orange Coast College cost?
Published tuition: $1,392 in-state, $11,640 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $7,203.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $5,562 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $6,354 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,216 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $11,890 |
| $110,001+ | $13,862 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,568.
How big is Orange Coast College?
Total enrollment: 16,091 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 23,113 students.
About 38% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Orange Coast College?
150%-time completion rate: 47.60%.
First-year retention: 73.8%.
What do graduates of Orange Coast College earn?
Median earnings: $35,739 six years after entry; $47,348 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $9,500.
24.38% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Orange Coast College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (2,059 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (388 completions)
- Computer Programming/Programmer, General (202 completions)
- Psychology, General (178 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (153 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (141 completions)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric (124 completions)
- Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer (110 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (90 completions)
- Culinary Arts and Related Services (83 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Orange Coast College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 47.60%; median earnings $47,348 at 10 years; net price $7,203. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,392
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Orange Coast College was $1,392.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$7,203
2024 Value
In 2024 Orange Coast College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $7,203.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,812 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$7,203 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,568 4-Year In-State Tuition
$46,560 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$19,159 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,465 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$22,016 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$88,064 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Orange Coast College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
24.38% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
2.12% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Orange Coast College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Orange Coast College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,184 | $6,320 | $9,798 |
| 2014 | $1,184 | $6,584 | $9,067 |
| 2015 | $1,184 | $6,584 | $9,462 |
| 2016 | $1,184 | $6,728 | $8,640 |
| 2017 | $1,186 | $7,690 | $3,762 |
| 2018 | $1,186 | $7,978 | $4,225 |
| 2019 | $1,188 | $7,836 | $3,178 |
| 2020 | $1,188 | $7,812 | $4,503 |
| 2021 | $1,198 | $8,398 | $4,384 |
| 2022 | $1,202 | $8,762 | $4,551 |
| 2023 | $1,208 | $9,992 | $4,754 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Orange Coast College reported total enrollment of about 16,091 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 50% male and 50% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (37.1%), White (28.8%), and Asian (20.7%). About 24.38% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 50.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
37.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Orange Coast College in 2024 is 16,091 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 23,113 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
73.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 37.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
16.70% 100% Completion Time
47.60% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 16.70% of students graduating from Orange Coast College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 44% male / 56% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 60% male / 40% female
- Computer Programming/Programmer, General: 75% male / 25% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Orange Coast College.
Return on Investment
$9,500 Median Student Debt
$47,348 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
20.06% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1543.34% Return on Investment
2.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Orange Coast College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 98 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 2,059 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 388 completions
3. Computer Programming/Programmer, General: 202 completions
4. Psychology, General: 178 completions
5. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 153 completions
6. Biological and Physical Sciences: 141 completions
7. Speech Communication and Rhetoric: 124 completions
8. Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer: 110 completions
9. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 90 completions
Most popular programs at Orange Coast College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Orange Coast College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Orange Coast College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 33.2%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $13,984
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,757
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Orange Coast College is a public institution located in Costa Mesa, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, Computer Programming/Programmer, General. Enrollment is approximately 16,091 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (37.1%), White (28.8%), Asian (20.7%). The 150%-time completion rate is 47.60%. Approximately 24.38% of students receive Pell Grants. About 50.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Location
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 98 distinct degree programs, Orange Coast College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Orange Coast College located?
Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA.
How much does Orange Coast College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,392 and average net price is $7,203 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,159 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Orange Coast College?
Orange Coast College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 23,113 students, Hispanic or Latino (37.1%), White (28.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Orange Coast College?
About 50.5% of students at Orange Coast College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Orange Coast College earn?
Median earnings are $35,739 six years after entry and $47,348 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Orange Coast College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 47.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Orange Coast College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,500.
Is Orange Coast College public or private?
Orange Coast College is a public institution located in Costa Mesa, CA.
Is Orange Coast College an HBCU?
No. Orange Coast College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Orange Coast College a tribal college?
No. Orange Coast College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Orange Coast College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Orange Coast College reports 37.1% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Orange Coast College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Orange Coast College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Costa Mesa, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Suburban college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Costa Mesa, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.