MiraCosta College vs. CMC

Comparable Facts

Compare MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA with Copper Mountain Community College in Joshua Tree, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

MiraCosta College is larger than CMC based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 2,019 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Copper Mountain Community College is in Joshua Tree, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Copper Mountain Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Copper Mountain Community College 18:1.

MiraCosta College vs. CMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or CMC? 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 CMC ($9,044 vs. $9,827).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Copper Mountain Community College are 35.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,086 vs. $34,328).
• Copper Mountain Community College is 20% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $232 more per year; $1,390.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.2% higher at CMC than at MiraCosta College (about $3,820 more per year; $13,570.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Copper Mountain Community College than at MiraCosta College (93% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Copper Mountain Community College students is 49.2% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($7,478 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. CMC Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. CMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and CMC? 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 of MiraCosta College and CMC have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $33,000), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 28%)

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.