Cuesta vs Leeward CC

Cuesta College and Leeward Community College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Cuesta College, nestled in the heart of San Luis Obispo County, California, boasts a higher acceptance rate, allowing more students to pursue their academic aspirations. Leeward Community College, situated in the vibrant city of Pearl City, Hawaii, stands out with its diverse student body, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the islands. While both colleges offer a wide range of programs, Cuesta College excels in the fields of Liberal Arts and Humanities, while Leeward Community College shines in Business and Healthcare. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details and discover which college aligns best with your unique academic goals and aspirations.
Cuesta College logo

Cuesta College

Leeward Community College logo

Leeward Community College

Overview

Location San Luis Obispo, California Pearl City, Hawaii
Campus setting Suburb: Small Suburb: Large
College type 2 year 2 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 66.0% 68.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees $25
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants
Total number of admissions given out
Admitted students who chose to enroll
Yield rate
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $25,602

Out of state: $32,966
In state: $23,854

Out of state: $28,990
Average net price $14,586 $8,046
Tuition
In state: $1,288

Out of state: $8,652
In state: $3,144

Out of state: $8,280
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

77.0%
Average amount $4,087
65.0%
Average amount $4,237
Students receiving federal student loan 2.0%
Average amount $6,557
5.0%
Average amount $4,537
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
0.0%
Average amount $3,360

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,661
Men 47.9% Women 52.1%
6,413
Men 35.5% Women 64.5%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 4.0% 2.1%
International students 0.2% 1.5%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Oregon Connecticut Illinois Kansas Hawaii California Florida New York Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Liberal Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Education
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 25:1 21:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 43.2% 27.2%
Dropout rate 39.6% 46.3%
Transferred out 8.5% 15.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $79,884
  • Year 3: $85,944
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,744
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $61,763
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $24,267
  • Year 3: $44,025
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,966
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,076
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $33,515
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $26,739
  • Year 3: $30,772
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,234
  • Year 2: $22,290
  • Year 3: $27,945
Culinary Arts and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,563
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,904
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $22,999
  • Year 3: N/A
Accounting and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: N/A