Mendocino College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mendocino College in Ukiah, 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 Mendocino College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 4,225 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mendocino College is located in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mendocino College 16:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Mendocino College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mendocino 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 Mendocino College ($9,044 vs. $9,798).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 51.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($16,580 vs. $34,328).
• Mendocino College is 22.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $265 more per year; $1,423.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at Mendocino College than at MiraCosta College (about $253 more per year; $10,003.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mendocino College than at MiraCosta College (84% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 43.2% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($7,180 vs. $5,013).

Mendocino College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mendocino College or MiraCosta College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MiraCosta College and Mendocino College.

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

Mendocino College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mendocino College and MiraCosta College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from MiraCosta College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Mendocino College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than Mendocino College graduates ($4,500 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mendocino College graduates ($46 vs. $134).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 30%)

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.