ARC vs. San Diego Miramar College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with San Diego Miramar College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than San Diego Miramar College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 14,257 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Miramar College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Miramar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; San Diego Miramar College 27:1.

ARC vs. San Diego Miramar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or San Diego Miramar College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego Miramar College than ARC ($8,066 vs. $9,488).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Miramar College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• American River College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Miramar College (about $142 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.1% higher at ARC than at San Diego Miramar College (about $2,614 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at San Diego Miramar College (89% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Miramar College students is 21.6% larger than aid received by American River College students ($6,637 vs. $5,456).

ARC vs. San Diego Miramar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or San Diego Miramar College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between San Diego Miramar College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; San Diego Miramar College - Open admission.

ARC vs. San Diego Miramar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and San Diego Miramar College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from San Diego Miramar College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,300 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Miramar College graduates have a $7,733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($4,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Miramar College graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($46 vs. $126).
• More San Diego Miramar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.