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Cerro Coso Community College

Cerro Coso Community College

Ridgecrest, CA · Rural · 3,171 students
WebsiteScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$18,306
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
25%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
31% typical
$34,963
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$40,902 typical
Open admission
Acceptance rate
78% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
About

Cerro Coso Community College is best known for its accessible transfer pathways and strong career technical education, offering standout programs in cybersecurity, nursing, administration of justice, and welding. Serving an expansive 18,000-square-mile region across the eastern Sierra and Mojave Desert, the college is uniquely distinguished by its deep partnership with the neighboring Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and its status as an early pioneer in online education. The student experience is characterized by small class sizes and a close-knit, supportive rural campus community that caters heavily to military-affiliated, working adult, and distance learners.

Wikipedia:Cerro Coso Community College is a public community college in the Eastern Sierra region of Southern California. It was established in 1973 as a separate college within the Kern Community College District. The college offers traditional and online courses and two-year degrees. The college serves an area of approximately 18,000-square-miles. Cerro Coso has five instructional sites: Eastern Sierra Center Bishop and Mammoth Lakes, Indian Wells Valley, Kern River Valley, and South Kern. The college also has an Incarcerated Student Education Program in two locations, the California City Correctional Facility and Tehachapi California Correctional Institution.

Location
Ridgecrest, CA, 93555-9571 · Rural campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
LAX · Los Angeles
120 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$1,384$11,254
Books & supplies$1,062$1,062
Cost of attendance$33,744$44,898
Average net price$18,306Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$11,254
In-state: $1,384
Books & supplies$1,062
Cost of attendance$44,898
In-state: $33,744
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $18,306
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.cerrocoso.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
Cerro Coso Community College’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$11,670
Housing$16,677
Food$7,884
Books & supplies$1,305
Personal expenses$5,706
Transportation$1,656
Total published by the school$44,898
See how the in-state total ($33,744) is made up
How it’s made up · in-state, 2026-27
Cerro Coso Community College’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$1,380
Housing$16,686
Food$7,533
Books & supplies$567
Personal expenses$5,067
Transportation$1,989
Total published by the school$33,744
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$18,595
$30–48k
$13,761
$48–75k
$17,054
$75–110k
$21,891
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
25%
Entered 2017–18
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
35% graduated · 20% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 44% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$29,462
10 yrs after entry$34,963
Debt
Middle 50% owe$2k–$3.5k
Admissions

No admissions data available for this college.

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Essay prompts

If Cerro Coso Community College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 38%Women 62%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
24 : 1
Pell grant
15%
First-gen
51%
Family income
$13,834
Independent
68%
Age at entry
28.0
Part-time
79%
Race & ethnicity
White
35%
Hispanic
45%
Black
7%
Asian
4%
Two or more
6%
AI/AN
2%
Varsity sports
CCCAA · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Institutional
Resources
Full-time faculty
36%
Faculty salary
$12,849/mo
Teaching spend
$7,220
per student
Federal loans
1%
Classification
Carnegie type
Associate's — high transfer
Undergraduate profile
Two-year, mostly part-time

Wondering if Cerro Coso Community College is the right fit for you?

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