Los Angeles City College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles City College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (14,611 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles City College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Angeles City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles City College 30:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Los Angeles City College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles 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 MiraCosta College than Los Angeles City College ($9,044 vs. $11,836).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles City College are 26% lower than at MiraCosta College ($25,407 vs. $34,328).
• Los Angeles City College is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $80 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Los Angeles City College than at MiraCosta College (about $822 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Los Angeles City College (81% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles City College students is 39.5% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,994 vs. $5,013).

Los Angeles City College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles City College.

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

Los Angeles City College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles 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 of Los Angeles City College and MiraCosta College have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $33,000), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $5,469 lower median loan debt than Los Angeles City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,969).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Los Angeles City College graduates ($46 vs. $103).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles City College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 33%)

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.