Cerro Coso Community College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, CA with MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

MiraCosta College is larger than Cerro Coso Community College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 5,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerro Coso Community College is located in Ridgecrest, CA (Rural Fringe setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cerro Coso Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerro Coso Community College 24:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerro Coso Community 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 MiraCosta College than Cerro Coso Community College ($9,044 vs. $20,045).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerro Coso Community College are 29.5% lower than at MiraCosta College ($24,192 vs. $34,328).
• Cerro Coso Community College is 19.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $226 more per year; $1,384.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.4% higher at Cerro Coso Community College than at MiraCosta College (about $1,504 more per year; $11,254.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Cerro Coso Community College (81% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerro Coso Community College students is 9% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,464 vs. $5,013).

Cerro Coso Community College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerro Coso Community 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 Cerro Coso Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerro Coso Community College - Open admission; MiraCosta College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cerro Coso Community College Aug 20, 2027.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerro Coso Community 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 MiraCosta College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Cerro Coso Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $32,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.