Merced College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

Merced College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Merced College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced 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 Merced College than MiraCosta College ($6,854 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 43.4% lower than at MiraCosta College ($19,432 vs. $34,328).
• Merced College is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $42 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at MiraCosta College than at Merced College (about $1,230 more per year; $9,750.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at MiraCosta College (88% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 49.2% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($7,480 vs. $5,013).

Merced College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

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

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

Merced College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College 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 MiraCosta College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.