Orange Coast College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Costa Mesa, California. It enrolls 16,091 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes62
Value81
Affordability45
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Orange Coast College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Orange Coast College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,203 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,203
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,392
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,640
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,159
Room & Board (off-campus)
$23,659
Books & Supplies
$1,465
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,603
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,192
Total Cost of Attendance
$15,561
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$5,562
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,354
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,216
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,890
Over $110,000
$13,862
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,12225%percentile
$9,500Medianpercentile
$9,50075%percentile
$14,44490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,940
↓ $2,560
No Pell $5,250
↓ $4,250
Dependent students $4,500
↓ $5,000
Independent students $9,173
↓ $327
Female students $6,782
↓ $2,718
Male students $5,717
↓ $3,783
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,519, less than completers ($9,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
19% of full-time students who enrolled at Orange Coast College graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
19%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Orange Coast College earn a median of $47,348 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,348
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,900, about 13% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Orange Coast College is home to 16,091 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 62% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
16,091
Part-Time
62%
First-Generation
51%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 37.1%5,968
White 28.8%4,629
Asian 20.7%3,329
Other 6.0%957
International 4.9%793
Black 1.6%249
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Orange Coast College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityCosta Mesa, California
Housing
Limited on-campus housing800 beds
Adult Learners
25%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Orange Coast College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
83 distinct programs across
30 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Orange Coast College is 26:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
26:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$2,293
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$43M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$122,077
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
257 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
257
100%
$122,077
Pros & Cons of Orange Coast College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Orange Coast College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Orange Coast College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Orange Coast College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Orange Coast College.
Is Orange Coast College hard to get into?
Orange Coast College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Orange Coast College?
Orange Coast College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Orange Coast College cost?
The average net price after aid at Orange Coast College is $7,203 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Orange Coast College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,348 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,203 per year. That's roughly 6.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Orange Coast College known for?
Orange Coast College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Orange Coast College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Orange Coast College are $47,348, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Orange Coast College accredited?
Yes. Orange Coast College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Orange Coast College?
Orange Coast College enrolls 16,091 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Orange Coast College?
Orange Coast College graduates 19% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Orange Coast College a public or private college?
Orange Coast College is a Public institution.
Where is Orange Coast College located?
Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, California.
What programs does Orange Coast College offer?
Orange Coast College offers 83 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Orange Coast College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Orange Coast College is 26:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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