College of Marin vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Marin in Kentfield, 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 Marin based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Marin is located in Kentfield, CA (Large Suburban setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Marin is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Marin 17:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

College of Marin vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Marin 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 Marin ($9,044 vs. $14,662).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Marin are 28.2% lower than at MiraCosta College ($24,645 vs. $34,328).
• College of Marin is 34.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $400 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at MiraCosta College than at College of Marin (about $416 more per year; $9,750.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at College of Marin (81% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Marin students is 22% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,117 vs. $5,013).

College of Marin vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

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

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

College of Marin vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Marin 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 College of Marin earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $9,875 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($4,500 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $102 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($46 vs. $148).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Marin students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 29%)

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.