Fullerton College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (19,521 students vs. 19,212 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Fullerton 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: Fullerton College 25:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Fullerton College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than San Diego Mesa College ($8,306 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Fullerton College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $4 more per year; $1,150.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.8% higher at Fullerton College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,377 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at San Diego Mesa College (87% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 55.7% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($8,252 vs. $5,301).

Fullerton College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

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

Fullerton College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 $4,300 more per year than Fullerton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fullerton College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.