College of Alameda vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Alameda in Alameda, 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 College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 6,141 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

College of Alameda vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda ($9,044 vs. $12,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Alameda are 33.5% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,820 vs. $34,328).
• College of Alameda is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $100 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at College of Alameda than at MiraCosta College (about $148 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Alameda than at MiraCosta College (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Alameda students is 7.4% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,385 vs. $5,013).

College of Alameda vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda.

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

College of Alameda vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Alameda students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 30%)

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.