Harbor College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, 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 Harbor College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 9,463 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Harbor College is located in Wilmington, CA (Large City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Los Angeles Harbor 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: Los Angeles Harbor College 27:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Harbor College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harbor 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 Harbor College ($10,316 vs. $14,632).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Harbor College are 18.7% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($25,407 vs. $31,243).
• Los Angeles Harbor College is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $92 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Harbor College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $566 more per year; $10,568.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Harbor College than at San Diego Mesa College (81% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 22% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Harbor College students ($8,252 vs. $6,765).

Harbor College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harbor 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 Harbor College.

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

Harbor College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harbor 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 $4,900 more per year than Harbor College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College and Harbor College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, San Diego Mesa College and Harbor College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More Harbor College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 41%)

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.