CRC vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, 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 CRC based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 15,744 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cosumnes River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Cosumnes River 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: Cosumnes River College 29:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

CRC vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CRC 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 Cosumnes River College than San Diego Mesa College ($8,043 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cosumnes River College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Cosumnes River College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $142 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.1% higher at CRC than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,614 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cosumnes River College than at San Diego Mesa College (92% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 64.5% larger than aid received by Cosumnes River College students ($8,252 vs. $5,017).

CRC vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CRC 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 CRC.

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

CRC vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CRC 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 $9,800 more per year than CRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than CRC graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CRC graduates ($46 vs. $98).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CRC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 28%)

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.