MiraCosta College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than MiraCosta College ($8,122 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saddleback College are 24.9% lower than at MiraCosta College ($25,769 vs. $34,328).
• MiraCosta College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $2 more per year; $1,158.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.6% higher at Saddleback College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,110 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Saddleback College (81% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($5,013 vs. $4,603).

MiraCosta College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback 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 $1,620 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($46 vs. $63).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saddleback College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.