Fresno City College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Fresno City College in Fresno, CA with MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fresno City College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (28,071 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fresno City College is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fresno City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fresno City College 29:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Fresno City College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fresno City College 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 Fresno City College ($9,044 vs. $9,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno City College are 47.6% lower than at MiraCosta College ($17,982 vs. $34,328).
• Fresno City College is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $176 more per year; $1,334.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Fresno City College than at MiraCosta College (about $404 more per year; $10,154.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fresno City College than at MiraCosta College (92% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fresno City College students is 43.8% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($7,210 vs. $5,013).

Fresno City College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fresno City College 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 Fresno City College.

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

Fresno City College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fresno City College 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 MiraCosta College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Fresno City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have a $655 lower median loan debt than MiraCosta College graduates ($3,845 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers, Fresno City College graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MiraCosta College graduates ($39 vs. $46).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fresno City College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 32%)

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.