Compton College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Compton College in Compton, 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 Compton College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 5,225 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Compton College is located in Compton, CA (Small City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Compton 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: Compton College 17:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Compton College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Compton 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 San Diego Mesa College than Compton College ($10,316 vs. $14,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Compton College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• San Diego Mesa College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Compton College (about $4 more per year; $1,146.00 vs. $1,142.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Compton College (about $1,180 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $8,822.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Compton College (79% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 30.7% larger than aid received by Compton College students ($8,252 vs. $6,316).

Compton College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

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

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

Compton College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Compton 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 $5,200 more per year than Compton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Compton College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 25%)

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.