Cuesta College

https://www.cuesta.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$1,288

2024 Average Net Price

$16,541

After Financial Aid

2024 Enrolled Students

11,283

25.6% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

48.3%

247 Graduates

About

Cuesta College is a higher education institution located in San Luis Obispo County, CA. In 2024, the most popular 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate concentrations at Cuesta College were Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,053 degrees awarded), Electrician (12 degrees), and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic) (11 degrees).

In 2024, 4,484 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Cuesta College. 57.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 42.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,401 degrees), 1.66 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,447 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Cuesta College is $1,288, which is $−6,872 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

Associates Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional Associates Colleges

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Cuesta College is $1,288, which is $6,872 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $16,541.

In 2024, 43% of undergraduate students attending Cuesta College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 2% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$1,288

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Cuesta College was $1,288. The cost of tuition at Cuesta College is $−6,872 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($8,160).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Cuesta College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$16,541

2024 Value

4.04%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Cuesta College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $16,541. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Cuesta College grew by 4.04%.

This chart compares the average net price of Cuesta College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$19,431

Room and Board

$1,152

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Cuesta College was of $19,431 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 9.26% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,152. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Cuesta College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

43%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

43% of undergraduate students at Cuesta College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 8.51% with respect to 2023, when 47% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Cuesta College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Enrollment

Cuesta College had a total enrollment of 11,283 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Cuesta College is 2,890 students and the part-time enrollment is 8,393. This means that 25.6% of students enrolled at Cuesta College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Cuesta College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 47.3% White, 35.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Two or More Races, 2.82% Asian, 1.81% Black or African American, 0.408% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.151% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Cuesta College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (26.1%), followed by White Female (25.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (18.6%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

25.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Cuesta College in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 11,283 students. The full-time enrollment at Cuesta College is 2,890 and the part-time enrollment is 8,393. This means that 25.6% of students enrolled at Cuesta College are enrolled full-time compared with 31.9% at similar Associates Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Cuesta College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

73%

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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Cuesta College was 73%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (64%), Cuesta College had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Cuesta College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
5,338 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
4,008 enrolled students
Two or More Races
767 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Cuesta College is 47.3% White, 35.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Two or More Races, 2.82% Asian, 1.81% Black or African American, 0.408% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.151% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Associates Colleges is 41.3% White, 28.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.2% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 564 students (5%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 666 more women than men received degrees from Cuesta College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Cuesta College is white (2,401 degrees awarded). There were 1.66 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,447 degrees).

The most common 1 to 2 Year Postsecondary Certificate concentration at Cuesta College is Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,053 degrees awarded), followed by Electrician (12 degrees) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic) (11 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Cuesta College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Library Science (59 degrees awarded), Human Sciences (210 degrees), and Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,991 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Cuesta College are Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (326,794 people), Other managers (261,610 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (188,756 people), Chief executives & legislators (119,689 people), and Postsecondary teachers (100,368 people).

The most specialized majors at Cuesta College in 2024 are Library Science (59 degrees awarded), Human Sciences (210 degrees), Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,991 degrees), Precision Production (79 degrees), and Communication Technologies (19 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Cuesta College are Surgeons, Agents & business managers of artists, performers, & athletes, Chief executives & legislators, Correspondence clerks & order clerks, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Cuesta College are Library Science (59 degrees awarded), Human Sciences (210 degrees), Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,991 degrees), Precision Production (79 degrees), and Communication Technologies (19 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Cuesta College are Elementary & secondary schools (444,899 people), Legal services (264,474 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (263,350 people), Computer Systems Design (200,519 people), and Justice, public order, & safety activities (179,087 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Cuesta College.

Most Common (2024)

Liberal Arts & Sciences
1,053 degrees awarded
Electrician
12 degrees awarded
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic)
11 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Cuesta College was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 1,053 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Cuesta College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

1,909

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

2,575

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 1,909 degrees were awarded to men at Cuesta College, which is 0.741 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (2,575).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Cuesta College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 695 degrees were awarded to men at Cuesta College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 0.675 times less than the 1,029 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 1,029 degrees were awarded to men at Cuesta College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 1.48 times more than the 695 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

28%

100% Completion Time

44%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 28% of students graduating from Cuesta College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 44% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 47% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Associates Colleges Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
2,401 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
1,447 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
280 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Cuesta College is white (2,401 degrees awarded). There were 1.66 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (1,447 degrees).

1.56% of degree recipients (70 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
1,923 degrees awarded
White Female
1,640 degrees awarded
White Female
1,377 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Cuesta College is white female (1,923 degrees awarded). There were 1.17 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (1,640 degrees).

Operations

Cuesta College has an endowment valued at nearly $41.6M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 2.45M (5.88%) compared to the 12.8% average return (818k on 6.41M) across all Associates Colleges.

In 2024, Cuesta College had a total salary expenditure of 121M. Cuesta College employs 135 Instructors. Most academics at Cuesta College are Male Instructor (71), and Female Instructor (64).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cuesta College are: Office and Administrative Support, with 114 employees, Management, with 37 employees, and Service with 36 employees.

Endowment

$41.6M

2024 Endowment

10.4%

growth from 2023

Cuesta College has an endowment valued at about $41.6M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Cuesta College grew 10.4% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $35.2M higher than than the median endowment of Associates Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Cuesta College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Associates Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$2.13M - Federal
$14.9M - State
$2.63M - Local

As of 2024, Cuesta College received $2.13M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $14.9M from state grants and contracts, and $2.63M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$48.9M

2024 Salaries

10.8%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Cuesta College paid a median of $48.9M in salaries, which represents 40.3% of their overall expenditure ($121M) and a 10.8% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 5.66% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 3% decline between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$16.5M

Instructional Salaries

135

Number of Employees

In 2024, Cuesta College paid a total of $16.5M to 135 employees working as instructors, which represents 33.8% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $720k (4.04%) for similar Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cuesta College were Office and Administrative Support with 114 employees, Management with 37 employees, and Service with 36 employees.

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