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Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa, CA·Public·16,117 students
Last updated: March 21, 2026

A good fit for students who want a large campus community and in-state California residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 16,117 students.

N/A
Accept
16,117
Students
N/A
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
$43,900
Earnings
10 yr
$9,500
Debt

About This School

Orange Coast College is a public institution located in Costa Mesa, California with approximately 16,117 undergraduate students enrolled. In-state tuition is $1,208 per year. Typical graduates earn $43,900 within 10 years of enrollment.

Orange Coast College (OCC) is a public community college in Costa Mesa in Orange County, California. It was founded in 1947, with its first classes opening in the fall of 1948. It provides Associate of Art and Associate of Science degrees, certificates of achievement, and lower-division classes transferable to other colleges and universities. The college enrolls approximately 24,000 undergraduate students. In terms of population size, Orange Coast College is the third-largest college in Orange County.

This is a strong option for students looking to transfer to a four-year school or earn an affordable credential in the Orange County area, with relatively low median debt of $9,500 keeping your financial risk manageable. The trade-off is that median earnings of $43,900 a decade out are modest, so it's worth being intentional about your program choice and transfer or career path rather than assuming the degree alone will do the heavy lifting. Best suited for students with a clear plan — whether that's transferring to a UC or CSU, or completing a vocational certificate with strong local job demand.

Founded
1947

Notable Alumni

Diane KeatonWilliam KattPatrick WarburtonBrian KrauseAdam DeVineCody CameronScott WeilandDavid DenmanDustin NguyenPeter JasonAudrina PatridgeMichael Irby

Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.

Admissions

SAT Scores

Average CompositeN/A

ACT Scores

Midpoint CompositeN/A

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition
$1,208
Out-of-State Tuition
$9,992
Avg Net Price
N/A
after aid

Financial Aid

Students receiving Pell Grants24%
Median debt at graduation$9,500

Full Cost

After Graduation

Graduation Rate
N/A
within 6 years
Retention Rate
N/A
freshmen returning
Earnings (10 yr)
$43,900
after enrollment
Median Debt
$9,500
at graduation

Will This School Pay Off?

Median Debt
$9,500
at graduation
Earnings (6 yr)
$30,600
after enrollment
Earnings (10 yr)
$43,900
after enrollment
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio: 4.6x

Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.

Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.

Student Body

White29%
Black2%
Hispanic/Latino36%
Asian22%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (16,117 undergraduates).

Contact & Location

Address

Orange Coast College

Costa Mesa, CA

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Other Schools in California

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Sources & Methodology

Data

Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.

Contextual Enrichment

School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.

Important Caveats
  • Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
  • Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
  • Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
  • Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
Trademarks

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