Cuesta College Tuition, Completion & Outcomes (2026)
Cuesta College is a public certificate and vocational school in San Luis Obispo, California, serving roughly 7,180 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 $12,124 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,350. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $46,047 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,350
- 2024 Average Net Price: $12,124 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 7,180 39.5% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 48.34%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
- First-Generation Students: 42.9%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 27.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 31.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 15,965
- Room & Board: $22,086 annual estimate
Cuesta College: what the data shows
Common questions about Cuesta College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Cuesta College?
Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (ZIP 93403-8106).
Is Cuesta College public or private?
Cuesta College is a Public institution.
How much does Cuesta College cost?
Published tuition: $1,350 in-state, $11,010 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $12,124.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $10,414 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,905 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,150 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,620 |
| $110,001+ | $18,448 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $5,400.
How big is Cuesta College?
Total enrollment: 7,180 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 15,965 students.
About 40% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Cuesta College?
150%-time completion rate: 48.34%.
First-year retention: 72.8%.
What do graduates of Cuesta College earn?
Median earnings: $38,541 six years after entry; $46,047 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $13,750.
17.61% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Cuesta College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (1,724 completions)
- Business/Commerce, General (428 completions)
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies (267 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (258 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (168 completions)
- Psychology, General (134 completions)
- Education, General (131 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (125 completions)
- Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (113 completions)
- Economics, General (83 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Cuesta College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 48.34%; median earnings $46,047 at 10 years; net price $12,124. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,350
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Cuesta College was $1,350.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$12,124
2024 Value
In 2024 Cuesta College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $12,124.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$48,496 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$12,124 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$5,400 4-Year In-State Tuition
$44,040 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$22,086 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$24,498 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$97,992 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Cuesta College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
17.61% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
1.94% 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 Cuesta 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 Cuesta 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 | $1,230 | $6,404 | $9,566 |
| 2014 | $1,234 | $6,408 | $10,855 |
| 2015 | $1,234 | $6,408 | $9,233 |
| 2016 | $1,234 | $6,408 | $9,642 |
| 2017 | $1,338 | $6,824 | $8,211 |
| 2018 | $1,338 | $8,702 | $8,974 |
| 2019 | $1,338 | $8,898 | $7,790 |
| 2020 | $1,338 | $8,898 | $11,063 |
| 2021 | $1,338 | $8,702 | $11,004 |
| 2022 | $1,340 | $9,348 | $10,149 |
| 2023 | $1,340 | $11,000 | $12,898 |
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
Cuesta College reported total enrollment of about 7,180 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (48.3%), Hispanic or Latino (35.9%), and Two or More Races (6.9%). About 17.61% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 42.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
39.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Cuesta College in 2024 is 7,180 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 15,965 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
72.8%
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 White at 48.3%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
17.81% 100% Completion Time
48.34% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 17.81% of students graduating from Cuesta 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: 40% male / 60% female
- Business/Commerce, General: 52% male / 48% female
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 40% male / 60% 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 Cuesta College.
Return on Investment
$13,750 Median Student Debt
$46,047 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
29.86% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
849.50% Return on Investment
3.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Cuesta College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 78 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 1,724 completions
2. Business/Commerce, General: 428 completions
3. Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 267 completions
4. Business Administration and Management, General: 258 completions
5. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 168 completions
6. Psychology, General: 134 completions
7. Education, General: 131 completions
8. Health Professions and Related Programs: 125 completions
9. Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic): 113 completions
Most popular programs at Cuesta College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Cuesta College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Cuesta College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 31.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $11,897
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,751
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Cuesta College is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business/Commerce, General, Humanities/Humanistic Studies. Enrollment is approximately 7,180 students. Student body composition includes White (48.3%), Hispanic or Latino (35.9%), Two or More Races (6.9%). The 150%-time completion rate is 48.34%. Approximately 17.61% of students receive Pell Grants. About 42.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-8106
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 78 distinct degree programs, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College located?
Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA.
How much does Cuesta College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,350 and average net price is $12,124 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $22,086 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Cuesta College?
Cuesta College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 15,965 students, White (48.3%), Hispanic or Latino (35.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Cuesta College?
About 42.9% of students at Cuesta College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Cuesta College earn?
Median earnings are $38,541 six years after entry and $46,047 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Cuesta College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 48.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Cuesta College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $13,750.
Is Cuesta College public or private?
Cuesta College is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, CA.
Is Cuesta College an HBCU?
No. Cuesta College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Cuesta College a tribal college?
No. Cuesta College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Cuesta College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Cuesta College reports 35.9% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Cuesta College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Cuesta 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 costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- San Luis Obispo, 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.