MiraCosta College vs. College of the Redwoods

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than College of the Redwoods based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 4,706 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of the Redwoods is in Eureka, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of the Redwoods is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; College of the Redwoods 17:1.

MiraCosta College vs. College of the Redwoods Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or College of the Redwoods? 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 College of the Redwoods ($9,044 vs. $9,400).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Redwoods are 64.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($12,117 vs. $34,328).
• College of the Redwoods is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $40 more per year; $1,198.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at MiraCosta College than at College of the Redwoods (about $896 more per year; $9,750.00 vs. $8,854.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Redwoods than at MiraCosta College (90% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Redwoods students is 25.4% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,288 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. College of the Redwoods Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or College of the Redwoods? 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 College of the Redwoods 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; College of the Redwoods - Open admission.

MiraCosta College vs. College of the Redwoods Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and College of the Redwoods? 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 $900 more per year than College of the Redwoods graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $2,761 lower median loan debt than College of the Redwoods graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,261).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Redwoods graduates ($46 vs. $75).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Redwoods students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 33%)

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.