Cuesta College

www.cuesta.edu

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2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$1,288

0% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$13,928

After Financial Aid

2018 Student Loan

8.76%

Default Rate

2020 Enrolled Students

10,093

29.6% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

38.2%

274 Graduates

About

Cuesta College is a higher education institution located in San Luis Obispo County, CA. In N/A, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Cuesta College were N/A.

In 2020, 2,498 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Cuesta College. 60.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 39.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,401 degrees), 1.8 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (777 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Cuesta College is $1,288, which is $−6,692 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($7,980).

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Cuesta College is $1,288, which is $−6,692 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($7,980).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $13,928.

In 2020, 46% of undergraduate students attending Cuesta College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 3% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$1,288

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at Cuesta College was $1,288. The cost of tuition at Cuesta College is $−6,692 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($7,980).

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

Average Net Price

$13,928

2020 Value

28.3%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 Cuesta College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,928. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of Cuesta College grew by 28.3%.

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

$15,084

Room and Board

$1,971

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Cuesta College was of $15,084 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,971. The cost of room and board increased by 9.47% between 2019 and 2020. The cost of books and supplies increased by 2.82% 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

46%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

46% of undergraduate students at Cuesta College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a growth of 4.55% with respect to 2019, when 44% 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.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

8.76%

2018 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2018 the default rate for borrower's at Cuesta College was 8.76%, which represents 31 out of the 354 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Enrollment

Cuesta College has a total enrollment of 10,093 students. The full-time enrollment at Cuesta College is 2,987 students and the part-time enrollment is 7,106. This means that 29.6% of students enrolled at Cuesta College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Cuesta College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 52.9% White, 31.6% Hispanic or Latino, 5.37% Two or More Races, 3.45% Asian, 3.12% Black or African American, 0.406% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.287% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Cuesta College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (29.2%), followed by White Male (25%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (17.6%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly N/A, followed by N/A and N/A.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

29.6%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Cuesta College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 10,093 students. The full-time enrollment at Cuesta College is 2,987 and the part-time enrollment is 7,106. This means that 29.6% of students enrolled at Cuesta College are enrolled full-time compared with 34.4% 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

70%

2020 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 70%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (60%), 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

White
5,341
Hispanic or Latino
3,192
Two or More Races
542

The enrolled student population at Cuesta College is 52.9% White, 31.6% Hispanic or Latino, 5.37% Two or More Races, 3.45% Asian, 3.12% Black or African American, 0.406% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.287% 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 44.5% White, 26.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.2% 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, 258 students (2.56%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 516 more women than men received degrees from Cuesta College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Cuesta College is white (1,401 degrees awarded). There were 1.8 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (777 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Cuesta College is N/A, followed by N/A and N/A.

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 (17 degrees awarded), Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,138 degrees), and Human Sciences (95 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

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 Elementary & middle school teachers (194,029 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (111,772 people), Other managers (95,517 people), Postsecondary teachers (89,936 people), and Secondary school teachers (87,199 people).

The most specialized majors at Cuesta College are Library Science (17 degrees awarded), Liberal Arts & Humanities (1,138 degrees), Human Sciences (95 degrees), Math & Statistics (43 degrees), and History (22 degrees).

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, Skincare specialists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Clinical and counseling psychologists, and Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys

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 (390,999 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (179,786 people), Computer Systems Design (102,549 people), Legal services (91,925 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (78,594 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

N/A
N/A degree-majorss awarded
N/A
N/A degree-majorss awarded
N/A
N/A degree-majorss awarded

In false, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Cuesta College was N/A with N/A degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Cuesta College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

991

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

1,507

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 991 degrees were awarded to men at Cuesta College, which is 0.658 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,507).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In false, 407 degrees were awarded to men at Cuesta College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 0.64 times less than the 636 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In false, 636 degrees were awarded to women at Cuesta College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 1.56 times more than the 407 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

13%

100% Completion Time

38%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 13% of students graduating from Cuesta College completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 38% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 46% 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.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (83.3%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Cuesta College is Female and Asian (83.3% graduation rate). Across all Associates Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 0.73% of graduates (2 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
1,401 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
777 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
103 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Cuesta College is white (1,401 degrees awarded). There were 1.8 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (777 degrees).

1.08% of degree recipients (27 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Female
855 degrees awarded
White Male
546 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
481 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Cuesta College is white female (855 degrees awarded). There were 1.57 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (546 degrees).

Operations

Cuesta College has an endowment valued at nearly $30.5M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $1.36M (4.45%), compared to the 5.11% average return ($226k on $4.42M) across all Associates Colleges.

In 2020, Cuesta College had a total salary expenditure of $106M. Cuesta College employs 134 Instructors, 0 N/A, and 0 N/A. Most academics at Cuesta College are Male Instructors (69), Female Instructors(65), and N/A (0).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cuesta College are: Office and Administrative Support, with 118 employees, Service, with 35 employees, and Management with 31 employees.

Endowment

$30.5M

2020 Endowment

2.14%

growth from 2019

Cuesta College has an endowment valued at about $30.5M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of Cuesta College grew 2.14% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $26.1M 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

$2.37M - Federal
$7.99M - State
$1.67M - Local

As of 2020, Cuesta College received $2.37M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $7.99M from state grants and contracts, and $1.67M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$44.8M

2020 Salaries

2.75%

growth from 2019

In 2020, Cuesta College paid a median of $44.8M in salaries, which represents 42.3% of their overall expenditure ($106M) and a 2.75% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 7.88% growth from 2018 and a 0.561% decline from 2017.

The median for similar Associates Colleges is 16.8M (43.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$13.8M

Instructional Salaries

134

Number of Employees

In 2020, Cuesta College paid a total of $13.8M to 134 employees working as instructors, which represents 30.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.98M (29.6%) for similar Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

134 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

118 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at Cuesta College were Instructor with 134 employees; false with 0 employees; and false with 0 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Cuesta College were Office and Administrative Support with 118 employees; Service with 35 employees; and Management with 31 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Male Instructor
Female Instructor

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Cuesta College was Male Instructor with 69 employees, and Female Instructor with 65 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Cuesta College.