Mendocino College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mendocino College in Ukiah, CA with Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Orange Coast College is larger than Mendocino College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 4,225 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mendocino College is located in Ukiah, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Mendocino College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mendocino College 16:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Mendocino College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mendocino College or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College than Mendocino College ($9,116 vs. $9,798).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mendocino College are 13.5% lower than at Orange Coast College ($16,580 vs. $19,159).
• Mendocino College is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Orange Coast College (about $31 more per year; $1,423.00 vs. $1,392.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.4% higher at Orange Coast College than at Mendocino College (about $1,637 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,003.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mendocino College than at Orange Coast College (84% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mendocino College students is 30.7% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($7,180 vs. $5,493).

Mendocino College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mendocino College or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast 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; Orange Coast College - Open admission.

Mendocino College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mendocino College and Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than Mendocino College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Mendocino College graduates ($6,500 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mendocino College graduates ($67 vs. $134).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mendocino College students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.