Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
About Orange Coast College
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 findings
- Orange Coast College charges about 0.3× the national public median tuition ($1,392).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 0.2×.
- Average net price runs below the California median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 47.60%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,348.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Orange Coast College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1543% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Orange Coast College awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 98 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Coast College | $1,392 | $7,203 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Orange Coast College really?
Key findings
- Orange Coast College charges about 0.3× the national public median tuition ($1,392).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 0.2×.
- Average net price runs below the California median net price.
Orange Coast College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $1,392
Finding Orange Coast College charges about 0.3× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $1,392. That is about 0.3× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 0.2×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.1×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Orange Coast College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Orange Coast College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Orange Coast College is $7,203.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $7,203 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $1,140 below the California median net price. Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $10,845 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Orange Coast College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Orange Coast College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Orange Coast College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$1,392
Out-of-state tuition
$11,640
Avg. net price
$7,203
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $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. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Orange Coast College is known for
Top program completions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies2,059
- Business Administration and Management, General388
- Computer Programming/Programmer, General202
- Psychology, General178
- Child Care Provider/Assistant153
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Orange Coast College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Orange Coast College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Orange Coast College.
Campus
Location
Costa Mesa, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 92626
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is about 0.4× the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Size
Enrollment
16,091
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 23,113
- Full-time share
- 38%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$9,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 24.38%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Orange Coast College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
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
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Orange Coast College graduates earn a median of $47,348 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Orange Coast College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $47,348. Median federal loan debt: $9,500. Average net price used in cost models: $7,203.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Orange Coast College graduates report median earnings of $47,348 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Orange Coast College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (98 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Orange Coast College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Orange Coast College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Orange Coast College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$43.5M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- California median 2.2× the median ($19.7M)
- Far West median 2.6× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 1.6× the median ($26.4M)
- California median 0.55× the median ($7,407)
- Far West median 0.56× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 0.34× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 33.2%
- California median 6.2 pp below median (39.3%)
- Far West median 12.5 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 24.8 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $13,984
- California median 1.4× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 1.5× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.8× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,757
- California median 0.89× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 0.82× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 0.79× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Orange Coast College at a glance
Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College is a public institution in Costa Mesa, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralComputer Programming/Programmer, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- Hispanic or Latino37.1%White or Caucasian28.8%Asian20.7%
Schools near Orange Coast College
Other campuses in Costa Mesa, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Orange Coast College located?
Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA.
What is Orange Coast College's tuition?
Orange Coast College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $1,392 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $7,203 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
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 explains Orange Coast College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($7,203), completion (47.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($47,348). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
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.
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
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.