Fullerton College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (19,521 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fullerton College 25:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Fullerton College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than MiraCosta College ($8,306 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 35.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,086 vs. $34,328).
• MiraCosta College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $8 more per year; $1,158.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27% higher at Fullerton College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,629 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at MiraCosta College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fullerton College students is 5.7% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,301 vs. $5,013).

Fullerton College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

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

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

Fullerton College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 Fullerton College earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fullerton College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 39%)

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.