Antelope Valley Community College District vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Antelope Valley Community College District in Lancaster, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Antelope Valley Community College District based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 13,532 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Antelope Valley Community College District is located in Lancaster, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Antelope Valley Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Antelope Valley Community College District 23:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Antelope Valley Community College District or San Diego Mesa 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 Antelope Valley Community College District than San Diego Mesa College ($6,110 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Antelope Valley Community College District are 55.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($13,960 vs. $31,243).
• San Diego Mesa College is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Antelope Valley Community College District (about $22 more per year; $1,146.00 vs. $1,124.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Antelope Valley Community College District (about $454 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,548.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Antelope Valley Community College District than at San Diego Mesa College (87% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 27.1% larger than aid received by Antelope Valley Community College District students ($8,252 vs. $6,490).

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Antelope Valley Community College District or San Diego Mesa 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 Mesa College and Antelope Valley Community College District.

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

Antelope Valley Community College District vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Antelope Valley Community College District and San Diego Mesa 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 Mesa College earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $34,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates ($4,500 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Antelope Valley Community College District graduates ($46 vs. $113).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Antelope Valley Community College District students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 19%)

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.