Long Beach City College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

Long Beach City College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (24,985 students vs. 19,212 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Long Beach City College is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Long Beach City 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: Long Beach City College 29:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Long Beach City College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Long Beach City 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 Long Beach City College than San Diego Mesa College ($7,565 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Long Beach City College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Long Beach City College is 35.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $410 more per year; $1,556.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.4% higher at Long Beach City College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,542 more per year; $12,544.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Long Beach City College than at San Diego Mesa College (91% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 31% larger than aid received by Long Beach City College students ($8,252 vs. $6,299).

Long Beach City College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Long Beach City 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 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; San Diego Mesa College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Long Beach City College Aug 17, 2027.

Long Beach City College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Long Beach City 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 $8,800 more per year than Long Beach City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $32,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Long Beach City College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.