Cuyamaca College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cuyamaca College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cuyamaca College 28:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca College 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 Cuyamaca College than MiraCosta College ($7,752 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 35.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,086 vs. $34,328).
• Cuyamaca College is 16.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $188 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16% higher at Cuyamaca College than at MiraCosta College (about $1,564 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College as at MiraCosta College (81% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 64.5% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($8,246 vs. $5,013).

Cuyamaca College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuyamaca College 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 Cuyamaca College.

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

Cuyamaca College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca College 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 MiraCosta College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College and Cuyamaca College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, MiraCosta College and Cuyamaca College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 36%)

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.