California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs Cuesta College: which has better ROI?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $66,660 in 1.6 years versus not at all at Cuesta College, on median earnings of $90,768 vs $46,047 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Cuesta College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,665 | $12,124 |
| Total net cost | $66,660 | $48,496 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $90,768 | $46,047 |
| Median debt | $18,500 | $13,750 |
| Payback | 1.6 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $781,500 | -$94,756 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Cuesta College?
Cuesta College, at $12,124 a year after aid versus $16,665 — a gap of $4,541 a year, or $18,164 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Cuesta College graduates earn more?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo graduates report a median $90,768 ten years after entry, $44,721 more than the $46,047 at Cuesta College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Cuesta College?
Cuesta College: its completers carry a median $13,750 in federal loans versus $18,500 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, a difference of $4,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
86% of students finish at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, against 48% at Cuesta College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.