Cuyamaca College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Cuyamaca 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: Cuyamaca College 28:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College than San Diego Mesa College ($7,752 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Cuyamaca College is 17.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $200 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.1% higher at Cuyamaca College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $1,312 more per year; $11,314.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at San Diego Mesa College (81% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Cuyamaca College students ($8,252 vs. $8,246).

Cuyamaca College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

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

Cuyamaca College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 $9,700 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College and Cuyamaca College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, San Diego Mesa College and Cuyamaca College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.