MiraCosta College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

MiraCosta College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College ($9,044 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Diego Mesa College are 9% lower than at MiraCosta College ($31,243 vs. $34,328).
• MiraCosta College is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $12 more per year; $1,158.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at MiraCosta College (about $252 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at San Diego Mesa College (81% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 64.6% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($8,252 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College and MiraCosta College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, San Diego Mesa College and MiraCosta College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa 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.