College of Alameda vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Alameda in Alameda, 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 College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 6,141 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

College of Alameda vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda ($10,316 vs. $12,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Alameda are 27% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,820 vs. $31,243).
• College of Alameda is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $112 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at College of Alameda (about $104 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Alameda than at San Diego Mesa College (86% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 53.2% larger than aid received by College of Alameda students ($8,252 vs. $5,385).

College of Alameda vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Alameda or San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa 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; San Diego Mesa College - Open admission.

College of Alameda vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda and San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than College of Alameda graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Alameda students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.