Cerritos College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

Cerritos College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 19,212 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cerritos College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos College 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 Cerritos College than San Diego Mesa College ($4,325 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,088 vs. $31,243).
• Cerritos College is 19% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $218 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at Cerritos College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,002 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at San Diego Mesa College (89% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 39.3% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($8,252 vs. $5,925).

Cerritos College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerritos College 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 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; San Diego Mesa College - Open admission.

Cerritos College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos College 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 $6,600 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Cerritos College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cerritos College graduates ($46 vs. $62).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.