Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, California
Orange Coast College is a public institution in Costa Mesa, California with 16,117 undergraduate students. For nursing students, the useful read is not just whether a program exists, but how its tuition, completion rates, debt, and earnings compare with nearby options.
In-state tuition is $1,208 compared with a California nursing-school average of $10,571. The school reports a graduation rate of 45.3%, median earnings of $47,348, and median federal debt of $9,500.
$1,208 is lower than the state average of $10,571.
45.3% is lower than the state average of 55.0%.
$47,348 is higher than the state average of $43,430.
About Orange Coast College
| Location | Costa Mesa, California |
| Institution Type | Public |
| Highest Degree | associate |
| Website | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| In-State Tuition | $1,208 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $9,992 |
| Total Enrollment | 16,117 |
| Acceptance Rate | N/A |
| Graduation Rate | 45.3% |
| Retention Rate | 73.0% |
| Median Earnings (10 yrs after) | $47,348 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,500 |
| Est. Monthly Loan Payment | $100 |
| Pell Grant Recipients | 23.6% |
| Students Receiving Loans | 1.6% |
| Loan Default Rate | 0.0% |
| Nursing Program | Available |
Cost and Return Snapshot
Based on published tuition, median debt, and earnings data
A typical graduate debt load would equal about 0.2 years of post-payment earnings capacity using the reported median earnings and 10-year monthly payment estimate.
Affordability Context
23.6% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful signal for how often the school serves lower-income students. 1.6% of students take federal loans, so borrowing is less common than at many institutions in the student body. The three-year loan default rate is 0.0%, which helps frame repayment risk alongside earnings and debt.
Cost and Outcomes Context
The value picture at Orange Coast College depends on the relationship between price, borrowing, and outcomes. A simple four-year tuition estimate is $4,832, while the reported median debt is $9,500 with an estimated monthly payment of $100. These figures should be compared with aid offers and program-specific requirements before making a final decision.
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Student Demographics
The student body is largest among Hispanic students (36.1%), followed by White students (28.6%) and Asian students (21.6%).
Value Score
Median earnings ($47,348) divided by median debt ($9,500)