Cuesta's tuition & fees has increased from $6,408 (2015) to $11,010 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 71.82% over the past 10 years.
Cuesta's tuition increase rate is higher than the California's average increase rate of 14.58%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 69.02% from 2015 ($24,309).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Cuesta's COA is $41,088, which is increased by 9.21% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Cuesta's COA over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | - | - | $19,135 | $24,309 | - |
| 2016-17 | - | - | $19,135 | $24,309 | |
| 2017-18 | - | - | $20,724 | $26,210 | 7.82% |
| 2018-19 | - | - | $21,282 | $28,646 | 9.29% |
| 2019-20 | - | - | $23,667 | $31,227 | 9.01% |
| 2020-21 | - | - | $23,667 | $31,227 | |
| 2021-22 | - | - | $25,602 | $32,966 | 5.57% |
| 2022-23 | - | - | $26,128 | $34,136 | 3.55% |
| 2023-24 | - | - | $27,962 | $37,622 | 10.21% |
| 2024-25 | - | - | $31,428 | $41,088 | 9.21% |
The tuition & fees have increased 71.82% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $10,948. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Cuesta College over last the 10 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Change By Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $1,234 | $6,408 | - |
| 2016-17 | $1,234 | $6,408 | |
| 2017-18 | $1,338 | $6,824 | 6.49% |
| 2018-19 | $1,338 | $8,702 | 27.52% |
| 2019-20 | $1,338 | $8,898 | 2.25% |
| 2020-21 | $1,338 | $8,898 | |
| 2021-22 | $1,338 | $8,702 | -2.20% |
| 2022-23 | $1,340 | $9,348 | 7.42% |
| 2023-24 | $1,340 | $11,000 | 17.67% |
| 2024-25 | $1,350 | $11,010 | 0.09% |
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,062, and it has decreased -39.80% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,764 | - |
| 2016-17 | $1,764 | |
| 2017-18 | $1,854 | 5.10% |
| 2018-19 | $1,917 | 3.40% |
| 2019-20 | $1,971 | 2.82% |
| 2020-21 | $1,971 | |
| 2021-22 | $1,125 | -42.92% |
| 2022-23 | $1,152 | 2.40% |
| 2023-24 | $1,152 | |
| 2024-25 | $1,062 | -7.81% |
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 53.52% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Cuesta College.
| Year | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $16,137 | - |
| 2016-17 | $16,137 | |
| 2017-18 | $17,532 | 8.64% |
| 2018-19 | $18,027 | 2.82% |
| 2019-20 | $20,358 | 12.93% |
| 2020-21 | $20,358 | |
| 2021-22 | $23,139 | 13.66% |
| 2022-23 | $23,636 | 2.15% |
| 2023-24 | $25,470 | 7.76% |
| 2024-25 | $29,016 | 13.92% |
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Cuesta College and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuesta College | $11,010 ($1,350) | $11,000 ($1,340) | 0.09% |
| American River College | $12,616 ($1,288) | $12,808 ($1,288) | -1.50% |
| Mt San Antonio College | $10,464 ($1,364) | $10,212 ($1,364) | 2.47% |
| Long Beach City College | $12,544 ($1,556) | $11,440 ($1,556) | 9.65% |
| Pasadena City College | $10,924 ($1,180) | $10,756 ($1,180) | 1.56% |
| Chaffey College | $11,120 ($1,184) | $11,120 ($1,184) | - |
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