Career Training Path › California › Cuesta College
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, California · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 · Phone: (805) 546-3100 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Cuesta College is a public trade and career school in San Luis Obispo, CA offering EMT & paramedic training, culinary & pastry programs, and welding, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Cuesta College has a 48.3% completion rate, below the state average of 64.2%, with median graduate debt of $13,750 and median earnings of $46,047 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Cuesta College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, with about 17.6% of students receiving Pell.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical technicians | $38,740 | $46,380 | $59,180 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $37,380 | $64,500 | $81,040 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $44,520 | $58,060 | $70,400 |
| Phlebotomists | $45,490 | $56,040 | $62,790 |
| Electricians | $46,800 | $76,160 | $103,000 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,390 | $79,750 | $93,720 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,180 | $64,980 | $77,060 |
| Construction laborers | $40,950 | $60,270 | $78,520 |
| Medical assistants | $39,290 | $49,660 | $61,870 |
| Nursing assistants | $40,110 | $47,630 | $54,800 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 158 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 59 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 24 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, under 300 hours | 19 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Associate degree | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Cuesta College is a public community college in San Luis Obispo, California, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used at this campus. Among its 23 trade and career program families, the campus awards the most completions in EMT & paramedic training, culinary & pastry schools, and welding schools, with 369 total trade completers out of an undergraduate enrollment of 7,180.
Federal data show a completion rate of 48.3%, which is below the state average of 64.2%. Graduates who took on debt had a median federal loan balance of $13,750, and median earnings ten years after entry were $46,047 for students who received aid. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 17.6% of students receive Pell Grants, a rough indicator of lower-income enrollment.
This campus offers a broad mix of program lengths across its 23 trade families, from shorter certificate-style training like EMT and welding to longer culinary and allied-health tracks, which may suit both first-time students and adults changing careers, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify accreditation status and current outcome data directly through the school's accreditor listing and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Cuesta College offers 23 trade and career program families, with the most completions in EMT & paramedic training, culinary & pastry schools, and welding schools.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Cuesta College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, and its status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this campus participates in Title IV federal aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used here.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 48.3%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%, according to federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates who borrowed had a median federal loan debt of $13,750, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry were $46,047, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (805) 546-3100 or visit its website for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Cuesta College is a public institution, which often means lower published tuition and different funding sources than for-profit schools.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in this data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration for EMT, culinary, welding, or other offerings.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation through the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?113193.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a range of program families, from EMT to culinary to welding, but specific scheduling or format details for career changers are not reported in this data; contact the school to ask about options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school directly to ask about requirements for specific programs like EMT or welding.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Cuesta College at (805) 546-3100 or through its website at https://www.cuesta.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not included here; use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?113193 to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
Other trade and career schools in San Luis Obispo, CA
- Central California School of Continuing EducationSan Luis Obispo, CA · 87% completion
- Laurus CollegeSan Luis Obispo, CA · college
- Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo, Inc.San Luis Obispo, CA
- San Luis Coastal Unified School DistrictSan Luis Obispo, CA
- San Luis Obispo Beauty CollegeSan Luis Obispo, CA · career school
- United Cerebral Palsey Assoc of San Luis Obispo CoSan Luis Obispo, CA
- Allan Hancock CollegeSanta Maria, CA · 26% completion
- CET-Santa MariaSanta Maria, CA · 77% completion
See all trade and career schools in California or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.