Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · offers Associate's degrees
—Acceptance rate
$12,124Average net price / year
48%Graduation rate
$46,047Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$13,750Median debt at graduation
7,180Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $1,350
- Out-of-state tuition
- $11,010
- Total cost of attendance
- $20,192
- Books & supplies
- $1,062
- Average net price
- $12,124
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $10,414
- $30–48k
- $10,905
- $48–75k
- $15,150
- $75–110k
- $16,620
- $110k+
- $18,448
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- —
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 48%
- First-year retention
- 73%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $38,541
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $46,047
- Median debt (graduates)
- $13,750
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 18%
- Students with federal loans
- 2%
Programs: what graduates earn
6 of 113 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Undergraduate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1,060 | $43,886 | — |
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 43 | $99,000 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 167 | $29,983 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 692 | $39,218 | — |
| Psychology, General | 99 | $41,854 | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 11 | $61,763 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 7,180
- Part-time
- 60%
- Women / men
- 53% / 47%
- White
- 48%
- Hispanic
- 36%
- Black
- 2%
- Asian
- 3%
- International
- 0%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 27:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $107,073 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 32%
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Website
- www.cuesta.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Communication & Journalism – 1% of degrees
- Personal & Culinary Services – 2% of degrees
- Education – 3% of degrees
- Family & Consumer Sciences – 6% of degrees
- Liberal Arts & General Studies – 42% of degrees
- Library Science – 2% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
How much does Cuesta College cost?
The average net price after grants is $12,124 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $1,350 and the full cost of attendance is $20,192.
How much do Cuesta College graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $46,047 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
48% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in San Luis Obispo
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · 21,996 students |
$16,665 | 31% | 86% | $90,768 |
| Laurus College San Luis Obispo, CA · Private for-profit · 1,116 students |
$22,733 | — | 43% | $30,896 |
| Central California School of Continuing Education San Luis Obispo, CA · Private for-profit · 41 students |
$11,840 | — | 86% | $41,223 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.