DVC vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, 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 DVC based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 17,228 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Diablo Valley College is located in Pleasant Hill, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Diablo Valley 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: Diablo Valley College 25:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

DVC vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC 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 DVC ($10,316 vs. $11,001).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Diablo Valley College are 25.6% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($23,238 vs. $31,243).
• Diablo Valley College is 14.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $166 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at DVC than at San Diego Mesa College (about $318 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Diablo Valley College (79% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 85.8% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($8,252 vs. $4,441).

DVC vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC 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 DVC.

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

DVC vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC 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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than San Diego Mesa College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 41%)

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.