MiraCosta College vs. Napa Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Napa Valley College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 4,844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Napa Valley College is in Napa, CA (Small City setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Napa Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Napa Valley College 21:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Napa Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Napa Valley 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 MiraCosta College than Napa Valley College ($9,044 vs. $19,587).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Napa Valley College are 34.2% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,599 vs. $34,328).
• MiraCosta College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Napa Valley College (about $2 more per year; $1,158.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.1% higher at Napa Valley College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,158 more per year; $11,908.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Napa Valley College than at MiraCosta College (88% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Napa Valley College students ($5,013 vs. $3,927).

MiraCosta College vs. Napa Valley College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. Napa Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley College earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Napa Valley College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Napa Valley College graduates ($46 vs. $77).
• More Napa Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MiraCosta College students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.