Chaffey College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

Chaffey College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (22,460 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Large Suburban setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Chaffey College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chaffey College 25:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Chaffey College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College than MiraCosta College ($7,809 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chaffey College are 27.1% lower than at MiraCosta College ($25,038 vs. $34,328).
• Chaffey College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $26 more per year; $1,184.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Chaffey College than at MiraCosta College (about $1,370 more per year; $11,120.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chaffey College than at MiraCosta College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chaffey College students is 15.4% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,787 vs. $5,013).

Chaffey College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College.

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

Chaffey College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chaffey 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 Chaffey College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,300 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chaffey 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.