LMC vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, 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 LMC based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 8,455 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Medanos College is located in Pittsburg, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Los Medanos 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 Medanos College 23:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

LMC vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LMC 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 Los Medanos College than San Diego Mesa College ($9,860 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Medanos College are 25.6% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($23,238 vs. $31,243).
• Los Medanos College is 14.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $166 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at LMC than at San Diego Mesa College (about $318 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Medanos College than at San Diego Mesa College (83% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 61.5% larger than aid received by Los Medanos College students ($8,252 vs. $5,109).

LMC vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LMC 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 LMC.

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

LMC vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LMC 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 $900 more per year than LMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $40,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More LMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.