Foothill College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, 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 Foothill College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 12,949 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Foothill 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: Foothill College 26:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Foothill College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College ($10,316 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 33.4% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($20,793 vs. $31,243).
• Foothill College is 36.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $419 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.9% higher at Foothill College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,588 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Foothill College (79% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 95.4% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($8,252 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

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

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

Foothill College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than San Diego Mesa College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $4,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($46 vs. $92).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.