MiraCosta College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

MiraCosta College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or CSM? 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 College of San Mateo than MiraCosta College ($5,831 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of San Mateo are 8.9% lower than at MiraCosta College ($31,288 vs. $34,328).
• College of San Mateo is 15% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $174 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.8% higher at CSM than at MiraCosta College (about $1,634 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at College of San Mateo (81% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 14.3% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,013 vs. $4,386).

MiraCosta College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or CSM? 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 CSM and MiraCosta College.

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

MiraCosta College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and CSM? 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 College of San Mateo earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($46 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MiraCosta College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 46%)

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.