MiraCosta College vs. Palo Verde College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Palo Verde College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 3,833 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Palo Verde College is in Blythe, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palo Verde College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Palo Verde College 22:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Palo Verde College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Palo Verde 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 Palo Verde College ($9,044 vs. $22,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Palo Verde College are 24.9% lower than at MiraCosta College ($25,767 vs. $34,328).
• Palo Verde College is 11.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $130 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.1% higher at Palo Verde College than at MiraCosta College (about $3,130 more per year; $12,880.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palo Verde College than at MiraCosta College (92% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 61.1% larger than aid received by Palo Verde College students ($5,013 vs. $3,111).

MiraCosta College vs. Palo Verde College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. Palo Verde College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Palo Verde 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 MiraCosta College earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Palo Verde College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $29,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.