MiraCosta College vs. Mission College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Mission College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 6,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Mission College is in Santa Clara, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mission College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Mission College 26:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Mission College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Mission 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 Mission College than MiraCosta College ($7,646 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at MiraCosta College are 2.9% lower than at Mission College ($34,328 vs. $35,361).
• Mission College is 24.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $280 more per year; $1,438.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.2% higher at Mission College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,750 more per year; $12,500.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Mission College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 4% larger than aid received by Mission College students ($5,013 vs. $4,820).

MiraCosta College vs. Mission College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. Mission College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Mission 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 Mission College earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Mission College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MiraCosta College students, three years after graduation. (49% 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.