Irvine Valley College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

Irvine Valley College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (13,018 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Irvine Valley College 31:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Irvine Valley College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College than MiraCosta College ($5,821 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Irvine Valley College are 24.9% lower than at MiraCosta College ($25,769 vs. $34,328).
• MiraCosta College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $2 more per year; $1,158.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.6% higher at Irvine Valley College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,110 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Irvine Valley College (81% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 44.7% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($7,254 vs. $5,013).

Irvine Valley College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College.

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

Irvine Valley College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Irvine Valley College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Irvine Valley College graduates ($46 vs. $62).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Irvine Valley College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 44%)

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.