Long Beach City College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

Long Beach City College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (24,985 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Long Beach City College is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Long Beach City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Long Beach City College 29:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Long Beach City College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Long Beach City 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 Long Beach City College than MiraCosta College ($7,565 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Long Beach City College are 35.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,086 vs. $34,328).
• Long Beach City College is 34.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $398 more per year; $1,556.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.7% higher at Long Beach City College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,794 more per year; $12,544.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Long Beach City College than at MiraCosta College (91% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Long Beach City College students is 25.7% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,299 vs. $5,013).

Long Beach City College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Long Beach City 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 Long Beach City College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Long Beach City College - Open admission; MiraCosta College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Long Beach City College Aug 17, 2027.

Long Beach City College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Long Beach City 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 MiraCosta College earn a median of about $200 more per year than Long Beach City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $32,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Long Beach City College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 24%)

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.