Cuesta College vs California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA — San Luis Obispo, CA

Metric
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
Location San Luis Obispo, CA San Luis Obispo, CA
Type Public Public
Total Enrollment 7,180 21,996
Acceptance Rate 31.3%
SAT Average
In-State Tuition $1,350 $13,596
Out-of-State Tuition $11,010 $34,665
Avg Net Price $12,124 $16,665
Median Debt at Graduation $13,750 $18,500
4-Year Graduation Rate 85.7%
Retention Rate 95.5%
Median Earnings (6 yr) $38,541 $72,358
Median Earnings (10 yr) $46,047 $90,768
Loan Repayment Rate 74700.0% 437700.0%

Values highlighted in green indicate the better metric. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

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Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA
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California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do Cuesta College and California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo compare?
Cuesta College (San Luis Obispo, CA) has no published acceptance rate, in-state tuition of $1,350, and median 10-year earnings of $46,047. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo, CA) has an acceptance rate of 31.3%, in-state tuition of $13,596, and median 10-year earnings of $90,768.
Which school has higher graduate earnings, Cuesta College or California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates earn more at 10 years out, with a median of $90,768 vs $46,047. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Which school is more affordable, Cuesta College or California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
Based on average net price (after grants and scholarships), Cuesta College is the more affordable option at $12,124 per year versus $16,665.

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All data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. PlainCollege is not affiliated with any government agency.

Related

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt) · 2025