MiraCosta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 2,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is in Visalia, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; San Joaquin Valley College Visalia 28:1.

MiraCosta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ($9,044 vs. $27,525).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia are 74.5% lower than at MiraCosta College ($8,764 vs. $34,328).
• San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is 1,334% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $15,448 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 70.3% higher at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia than at MiraCosta College (about $6,856 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia than at MiraCosta College (85% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Valley College Visalia students is 8.3% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,430 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia - Open admission.

MiraCosta College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 $900 more per year than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $11,300 lower median loan debt than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($4,500 vs. $15,800).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $117 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($46 vs. $163).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 29%)

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.