LMC vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than LMC based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 8,455 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Medanos College is located in Pittsburg, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Los Medanos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Medanos College 23:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

LMC vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC 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 LMC ($9,044 vs. $9,860).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Medanos College are 32.3% lower than at MiraCosta College ($23,238 vs. $34,328).
• Los Medanos College is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $154 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at LMC than at MiraCosta College (about $570 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Medanos College than at MiraCosta College (83% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Medanos College students is 1.9% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,109 vs. $5,013).

LMC vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LMC 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 LMC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LMC - Open admission; MiraCosta College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: LMC Aug 9, 2027.

LMC vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC 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 Los Medanos College earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,700 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LMC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 43%)

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.