Columbia Junior College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Sonora, 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 Columbia Junior College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 2,828 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA (Remote Town setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Columbia 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: Columbia College 21:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Columbia Junior College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia Junior 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 Columbia Junior College ($10,316 vs. $12,358).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Columbia College is 11.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $136 more per year; $1,282.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Columbia College (about $738 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Columbia College (79% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 34.9% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($8,252 vs. $6,119).

Columbia Junior College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia Junior 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 Columbia Junior College.

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

Columbia Junior College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia Junior 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 $11,200 more per year than Columbia Junior College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.