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Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA·Public·https://www.cuesta.edu/

Campus Identity

Beach TownVery Safe

Cuesta College is a public community college in San Luis Obispo, CA. The campus sits in a beach town, just 7 miles from the ocean. CollegeCove's campus safety score is 97/100 (Very Safe), based on U.S. Department of Education Clery Act data.

At a Glance

Cuesta College is a public community college in San Luis Obispo, CA. The campus sits in a beach town, just 7 miles from the ocean. CollegeCove's campus safety score is 97/100 (Very Safe), based on U.S. Department of Education Clery Act data.

N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
ACT Score (50th %ile)
$1,288
In-State Tuition
+$50 fees
$8,652
Out-of-State Tuition
+$50 fees
N/A
Room & Board
N/A
Total Enrollment
Undergraduate students
N/A
Yield Rate
Admitted students who enrolled
N/A
Athletics

Campus Lifestyle

School Size & Setting

10,000–19,999

Rural setting

Beach Access

7 miles

Morro Bay, CA

Weather

Warm Climate

59°F avg school-year

Nearby Ski Resorts

Ski China Peak

California

158 mi away
1,400 skiable acres11 lifts
159 mi away

Beach Town

Morro Bay, CA

Ocean access within 6.5 miles

7 mi away

Average Monthly Temperature

1991–2020 Climate Normals · San Luis Obispo, CA

54°Jan55°Feb57°Mar58°Apr61°May64°Jun66°Jul67°Aug67°Sep65°Oct59°Nov54°Dec

Station: SAN LUIS OBISPO POLY · Source: NOAA NCEI

On Campus Safety Score

2021–2023 U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security data normalized per 1,000 students

97/100
Very Safe
PersonalSafetyPropertySafetyParty SceneSafety9796100
97/100
Personal
assault, rape, stalking, dating and domestic violence
96/100
Property
burglary, vehicle theft, arson
100/100
Party Scene
drug, alcohol & weapons enforcement

On Campus Safety data from the U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act Database, normalized per 1,000 enrolled students. Higher scores indicate a safer environment. Review detailed data on the U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security website.

Cost Breakdown

Annual costs for the 2023–24 academic year. Source: IPEDS/NCES 2024.

Tuition
$1,288$8,652
Fees
$50$50
Total
$1,338$8,702
In-StateOut-of-State

These are sticker prices. Your actual cost may be much lower with financial aid.

Calculate Your Net Price

Fields of Study

113 programs offered

Most Popular Programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesCertificate
1,060 grads/yr
Business/Commerce, GeneralCertificate
705 grads/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate's
692 grads/yr$39,218
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAssociate's
167 grads/yr$55,527
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsCertificate
166 grads/yr

Bar width proportional to graduates per year. Earnings = median 4 years after graduation.

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Associate's43 grads$112,730
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Associate's167 grads$55,527
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Associate's692 grads$39,218
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Certificate1,060 grads
Business/Commerce, General
Certificate705 grads
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
Certificate166 grads
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Associate's144 grads
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Certificate141 grads
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
Certificate100 grads
Psychology, General
Associate's99 grads

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect graduates working and not enrolled full-time. Data suppressed (shown as —) for programs with fewer than 30 graduates. Most recent available year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Cuesta College located?

Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA. The main campus address is Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, CA. It is a public institution offering 2-year associate degree programs.

How much does it cost to attend Cuesta College?

For the 2023–24 academic year, Cuesta College charges $1,288/year for in-state students and $8,652/year for out-of-state students. Including room and board, the total estimated cost for out-of-state students is approximately $8,702/year. Financial aid, scholarships, and grants can significantly reduce this cost — use Cuesta College's net price calculator for a personalized estimate.

Is Cuesta College the right fit for me?

Whether Cuesta College is right for you depends on your academic goals, budget, lifestyle preferences, and career aspirations. Key factors to consider: admissions requirements, cost ($8,652/year out-of-state), campus culture in San Luis Obispo, and available programs. Use CollegeCove's compare tool to weigh Cuesta College against similar schools side-by-side.

Data sourced from IPEDS/NCES 2024. Always verify with Cuesta College directly for the most current information.

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Start your application at the official website.

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Quick Facts

Type
Public
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA
Size
10,000–19,999
Degrees Offered
Associate's, Certificates
School Year Weather
Warm · 59°F avg
On Campus Safety Score
97/100
Nearest Airport
San Luis Obispo, CA (SBP) · 9 mialso PRB (25 mi), SMX (34 mi)

Location

San Luis Obispo, CA

Data Sources: Admissions, cost, and enrollment data sourced from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) (NCES, 2024 survey year). Fields of Study data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. On Campus Safety Score computed from Clery Act data (U.S. Dept. of Education, 3-year average normalized per 1,000 students). Data may not reflect most recent changes. Always verify with the institution directly.