Tuition, Net Price and Aid
| Metric | School value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges | Institutional accreditor where reported | Verify |
| In-state tuition | $1,340 | National avg: $20,567 | Verify |
| Out-of-state tuition | $11,000 | National avg: $20,567 | Verify |
| Attendance cost | $20,561 | Use with aid and net price | Verify |
| Average net price | $12,898 | State avg: $19,695. National avg: $17,506 | Verify |
| Pell grant rate | 18.09% | Federal need-based grant indicator | Verify |
| Federal loan rate | 2.05% | Share using federal loans | Verify |
What Does Cuesta College Cost?
Total cost of attendance vs average net price after grants and aid, based on the local College Scorecard dataset.
Tuition
$11,000
Books and supplies
$1,152
Fees and remainder
$8,409
Sticker price
$20,561
Average net price
$12,898
Average aid coverage
37%
$7,663 below sticker price on average
What You Pay
Based on available data, the average student at Cuesta College pays approximately $12,898 per year after grants and aid. This is below the California average of $19,695 and below the national average of $17,506.
How Affordable Is Cuesta College?
Average net price after grants and scholarships, compared to California and national averages.
Cuesta College net price
$12,898
California average
$19,695
National average
$17,506
Cuesta College Tuition and Net Price Trend
The current imported dataset shows tuition at $11,000 and average net price at $12,898. A multi-year trend chart will appear here after historical College Scorecard release tables are imported.
Current tuition
$11,000
Current net price
$12,898
Current-year comparison is shown now; historical bars will replace this fallback once multi-year College Scorecard releases are imported.
Student Outcomes
Completion Rate (150% Time)
Not available
Completion data is not reported for Cuesta College in the federal College Scorecard dataset.
10-Year Earnings
$46,047
Undergraduates
6,879
10-Year Median Earnings - Cuesta College vs Peers
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Source: College Scorecard federal dataset.
Cuesta College graduates earn about 1.1x the national average 10 years after enrollment, based on schools with reported earnings data.
Who Attends Cuesta College?
Undergraduates
6,879
Completion rate
Not available
National comparison unavailable; national avg: 52.02%
Pell recipients
18.09%
Below national average; national avg: 42.32%
Federal loan rate
2.05%
Below national average; national avg: 40.83%
Completion vs national average
Pell grant recipients
Federal loan usage
Financial Aid
About 18.09% of Cuesta College students receive federal Pell grants, indicating the share of students receiving this need-based aid in the local dataset. 2.05% take federal loans, which helps families understand borrowing patterns alongside net price.
Estimate Your Net Price at Cuesta College
Select a family income bracket to see the average net price students in that range paid. Data comes from College Scorecard income-bracket averages when available.
Estimated net price for :
This estimate is based on College Scorecard averages for students in this income range who received federal aid. Actual amounts vary. Use Cuesta College's official Net Price Calculator for a personalized figure.
Accreditation
Cuesta College lists Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges as its accreditor in the local dataset. Institutional accreditation is an important trust signal and can affect federal financial aid eligibility. Accreditation means an external agency has reviewed academic quality and institutional standards, which helps families verify whether federal aid pathways such as Pell grants and federal loans may apply.
Campus and Location
Cuesta College is listed at Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-8106. Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Compare Schools
Compare Cuesta College with nationally comparable peer institutions across acceptance rate, tuition, net price and 10-year earnings. Click any school name to open its full profile.
| School | Accept. rate | Out-of-state tuition | Avg net price | 10-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuesta College | Not available | $11,000 | $12,898 | $46,047 |
| Samuel Merritt University | Not available | Not available | Not available | $143,238 |
| Harvey Mudd College | 13.06% | $66,255 | $32,492 | $138,687 |
| California Institute of Technology | 3.14% | $63,255 | $18,902 | $128,566 |
| Stanford University | 3.91% | $62,484 | $12,136 | $124,080 |
Similar Schools in San Luis Obispo
This local cluster focuses on nearby San Luis Obispo schools, not national peers. Use it to compare local net price, acceptance rate and enrollment options around San Luis Obispo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Cuesta College's acceptance rate not listed?
Acceptance rate data is not reported for Cuesta College in the federal field used by this dataset. That usually means the value should be verified directly with the school before comparing admissions selectivity.
How much is Cuesta College tuition?
Cuesta College's out-of-state tuition in the local dataset is $11,000.
What is Cuesta College's average net price?
Cuesta College's average net price in the local dataset is $12,898.
What is Cuesta College's average earnings 10 years after enrollment?
The local dataset reports 10-year median earnings of $46,047 for Cuesta College.
Is Cuesta College accredited?
Cuesta College's accreditor in the local dataset is Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Cuesta College?
The local dataset lists 6,879 undergraduate students at Cuesta College.
What percentage of Cuesta College students receive Pell grants?
The Pell grant rate for Cuesta College in the local dataset is 18.09%.
What is the federal loan rate at Cuesta College?
The federal loan rate for Cuesta College in the local dataset is 2.05%.
Where should I verify Cuesta College data?
Use this page for comparison, then verify admissions, tuition, net price and student outcomes directly with Cuesta College or the latest official federal education data.