Fresno City College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

Fresno City College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (28,071 students vs. 19,212 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fresno City College is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Fresno City 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: Fresno City College 29:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Fresno City College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fresno City 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 Fresno City College than San Diego Mesa College ($9,618 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno City College are 42.4% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($17,982 vs. $31,243).
• Fresno City College is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $188 more per year; $1,334.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at Fresno City College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $152 more per year; $10,154.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fresno City College than at San Diego Mesa College (92% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 14.5% larger than aid received by Fresno City College students ($8,252 vs. $7,210).

Fresno City College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fresno City 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 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; San Diego Mesa College - Open admission.

Fresno City College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fresno City 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 $9,900 more per year than Fresno City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 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 San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College graduates ($39 vs. $46).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fresno City College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.