Coastline Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Coastline Community College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 9,008 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastline Community College is located in Fountain Valley, CA (Small City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Coastline Community 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: Coastline Community College 39:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Coastline Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastline Community 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 San Diego Mesa College than Coastline Community College ($10,316 vs. $16,972).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastline Community College are 24.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($23,659 vs. $31,243).
• Coastline Community 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 16.1% higher at Coastline Community College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $1,610 more per year; $11,612.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Coastline Community College (79% vs. 70%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 51.3% larger than aid received by Coastline Community College students ($8,252 vs. $5,455).

Coastline Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastline Community 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 Coastline Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Coastline Community College - Open admission; San Diego Mesa College - Open admission.

Coastline Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastline Community 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 $1,000 more per year than Coastline Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $40,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Coastline Community College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,250).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Coastline Community College graduates ($46 vs. $54).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastline Community College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.