Cerritos College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA with MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cerritos College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Cerritos College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos College or MiraCosta 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 Cerritos College than MiraCosta College ($4,325 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 35.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,088 vs. $34,328).
• Cerritos College is 17.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $206 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.1% higher at Cerritos College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,254 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at MiraCosta College (89% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerritos College students is 18.2% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,925 vs. $5,013).

Cerritos College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerritos College or MiraCosta 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 MiraCosta College and Cerritos College.

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

Cerritos College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos College and MiraCosta 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 Cerritos College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Cerritos College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cerritos College graduates ($46 vs. $62).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 35%)

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.