City College of San Francisco vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA with MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

City College of San Francisco is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (19,267 students vs. 11,478 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City College of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• City College of San Francisco is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City College of San Francisco 24:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

City College of San Francisco vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco ($9,044 vs. $9,616).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at City College of San Francisco are 21.6% lower than at MiraCosta College ($26,907 vs. $34,328).
• City College of San Francisco is 46.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $538 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.3% higher at City College of San Francisco than at MiraCosta College (about $4,906 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at City College of San Francisco (81% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 46% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($7,318 vs. $5,013).

City College of San Francisco vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco or MiraCosta College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MiraCosta College and City College of San Francisco.

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

City College of San Francisco vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco and MiraCosta College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than City College of San Francisco graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,250).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than City College of San Francisco graduates ($46 vs. $85).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of San Francisco students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 39%)

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.