DVC vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA with MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Diablo Valley College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (17,228 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Diablo Valley College is located in Pleasant Hill, CA (Large Suburban setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Diablo Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Diablo Valley College 25:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

DVC vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC 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 DVC ($9,044 vs. $11,001).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Diablo Valley College are 32.3% lower than at MiraCosta College ($23,238 vs. $34,328).
• Diablo Valley College is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $154 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at DVC than at MiraCosta College (about $570 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Diablo Valley College (81% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 12.9% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($5,013 vs. $4,441).

DVC vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC 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 DVC.

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

DVC vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC 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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MiraCosta College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 46%)

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.