California community colleges guide · Updated September 29, 2026
Orange Coast College is a public community college in Costa Mesa with open admission and enrollment fees of $46 per unit for California residents. It was the No. 1 community college in Orange County for combined UC and CSU transfers in Fall 2024, with 1,743 students transferring. OCC is also the first community college in Southern California to offer on-campus student housing, The Harbour.
Orange Coast College, or OCC, is part of the Coast Community College District. It offers more than 135 academic and career programs, from transfer pathways to nautical and technical training, and it enrolled 17,096 students in Fall 2024.
Here are the official numbers: what OCC costs, how admission and transfer work, and what the college is known for.
| Fact | Orange Coast College |
|---|---|
| Type | Public community college, Coast Community College District |
| Location | 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, Orange County |
| Founded | 1947 (classes began in 1948) |
| Admission | Open admission for high school graduates and adults 18 and older |
| Enrollment fee, California residents | $46 per unit |
| Students | 17,096 (Fall 2024); 64% part-time |
| Transfers, Fall 2024 | 1,274 to CSU and 469 to UC (1,743 total, No. 1 in Orange County) |
| Campus housing | Yes, The Harbour |
| Total estimated cost (2024-25) | $8,230 living with family; $27,619 on campus |
| Average net price | $9,116 (2023-24) |
| Retention (full-time) | 74% (Fall 2023 cohort) |
| Graduation / transfer-out rate | 48% / 12% within three years (Fall 2021 full-time cohort) |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 27:1 |
| Athletics | Pirates |
Sources: Orange Coast College, About OCC and Top Transfer; College Navigator (IPEDS). Full list at the end of the article.
In This Article
What Is OCC?
Orange Coast College is a public two-year college founded in 1947, after local voters approved its creation, with classes beginning in 1948. It’s part of the Coast Community College District and the California Community Colleges system. Its official name is Orange Coast College, not “Orange County College.”
OCC offers more than 135 academic and career programs, including 28 Associate Degrees for Transfer. The college says nearly half of its students are enrolled in career and technical education programs, and it offers fall, winter, spring and summer terms.
Does OCC Have Selective Admissions?
No. Like all California community colleges, OCC has open admission for high school graduates and anyone 18 or older who can benefit from instruction. Students apply through CCCApply. Some programs have additional requirements or limited seats, but general admission isn’t competitive, and that open-access model applies across the state’s community colleges.
How Much Does OCC Cost?
California residents pay $46 per unit, so a full-time load of 14 units per semester costs $1,288 a year in enrollment fees before small campus fees. Federal data puts OCC’s full-time in-state tuition and fees at $1,392 for 2024-25.
| OCC estimated costs, 2024-25 | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees (full-time year) | $1,392 | $11,640 |
| Books and supplies | $1,465 | $1,465 |
| Total cost, living on campus | $27,619 | $37,867 |
| Total cost, living off campus | $32,708 | $42,956 |
| Total cost, living with family | $8,230 | $18,478 |
Source: College Navigator, estimated expenses for full-time beginning undergraduate students, 2024-25.
Many California students pay no enrollment fees through the California College Promise Grant, and Pell Grants and Cal Grants can help with living costs. OCC says its general education classes cost about one-fifth of what CSU charges for the same courses.
“OCC is one of a small number of California community colleges with its own student housing. The Harbour costs less than renting off campus in coastal Orange County, but living at home remains by far the cheapest way to attend.”
CalChannel Editorial Team
Transferring From OCC
OCC was the top community college in Orange County for combined UC and CSU transfers in Fall 2024. That year, 1,274 OCC students transferred to CSU campuses and 469 to UC campuses, for 1,743 total, ahead of Fullerton College (1,469) and Irvine Valley College (1,371).
OCC students also have transfer agreements and priority consideration with several universities, including UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, Loyola Marymount and Chapman. Students who complete most of their units at OCC also count as local applicants at Cal State Long Beach.
Where Is OCC Located?
OCC’s main campus is at 2701 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa, in Orange County, a few miles from the beaches of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. Its nautical programs, including the School of Sailing and Seamanship, operate from a waterfront campus in Newport Beach.
What Is OCC Known For?
OCC is known for transfers, for one of the nation’s largest public nautical programs, and for career and technical programs in fields such as aviation, culinary arts, health care and the trades. Is OCC a good option for specialized technical fields like aviation or marine trades? Yes, those are among its signature programs. Its athletic teams are the Pirates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does OCC have selective admissions?
No. OCC has open admission for high school graduates and adults 18 and older, like all California community colleges. Some programs have extra requirements.
Is “Orange County College” the correct name?
No. The official name is Orange Coast College, located in Costa Mesa. It’s part of the Coast Community College District.
How much does Orange Coast College cost?
California residents pay $46 per unit in enrollment fees. Federal data puts full-time in-state tuition and fees at $1,392 for 2024-25.
Does OCC have dorms?
Yes. OCC’s student housing, The Harbour, was the first on-campus housing at a Southern California community college.
Where do OCC students transfer?
Most transfer to CSU and UC campuses. In Fall 2024, 1,274 OCC students transferred to CSU and 469 to UC, the most of any Orange County community college.
The Bottom Line on OCC
Orange Coast College is an open-admission community college in Costa Mesa that leads Orange County in UC and CSU transfers and offers on-campus housing. At $46 per unit for California residents, it’s a low-cost way to start a bachelor’s degree or earn a career credential.
Compare OCC with Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College and other California community colleges.
Sources
CalChannel Editorial Team California college guides
The CalChannel editorial team researches and writes guides to California colleges, admissions and financial aid. We build our college profiles and aid guides from colleges’ own published data, federal IPEDS data and the California Student Aid Commission. Read our editorial policy.
