MiraCosta College vs. Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

MiraCosta College vs. Riverside City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Riverside City 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 Riverside City College ($9,044 vs. $10,174).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Riverside City College are 22.1% lower than at MiraCosta College ($26,740 vs. $34,328).
• Riverside City College is 23.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $270 more per year; $1,428.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.2% higher at Riverside City College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,748 more per year; $12,498.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Riverside City College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 28.9% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,463 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. Riverside City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or Riverside City 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 Riverside City 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; Riverside City College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

MiraCosta College vs. Riverside City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Riverside City 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 Riverside City College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($46 vs. $82).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 41%)

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.