Hartnell College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Hartnell College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 11,273 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA (Midsize City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Hartnell College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hartnell College 22:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Hartnell College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hartnell 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 Hartnell College than MiraCosta College ($5,246 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hartnell College are 15.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($28,953 vs. $34,328).
• Hartnell College is 21.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $246 more per year; $1,404.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Hartnell College than at MiraCosta College (about $624 more per year; $10,374.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartnell College than at MiraCosta College (94% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hartnell College students is 24.9% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,263 vs. $5,013).

Hartnell College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

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

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

Hartnell College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hartnell 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 Hartnell College earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,300 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hartnell College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 27%)

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.