Lassen Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Lassen Community College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 2,038 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lassen Community College is located in Susanville, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Lassen Community 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: Lassen Community College 16:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Lassen Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lassen Community 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 San Diego Mesa College than Lassen Community College ($10,316 vs. $12,406).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lassen Community College are 55.4% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($13,924 vs. $31,243).
• San Diego Mesa College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lassen Community College (about $2 more per year; $1,146.00 vs. $1,144.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Lassen Community College (about $722 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,280.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Lassen Community College (79% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 23.3% larger than aid received by Lassen Community College students ($8,252 vs. $6,692).

Lassen Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lassen Community 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 Lassen Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lassen Community College - Open admission; San Diego Mesa College - Open admission.

Lassen Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lassen Community 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 Lassen Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lassen Community College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 23%)

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.