MiraCosta College vs. San Jose City College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than San Jose City College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 8,609 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

MiraCosta College vs. San Jose City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or San Jose 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 San Jose City College ($9,044 vs. $19,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Jose City College are 34% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,658 vs. $34,328).
• San Jose City College is 18% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $208 more per year; $1,366.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.3% higher at San Jose City College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,172 more per year; $11,922.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Jose City College than at MiraCosta College (85% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Jose City College students is 13.9% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,712 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. San Jose City College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. San Jose City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and San Jose 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 San Jose City College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,200 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than San Jose City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,250).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Jose City College graduates ($46 vs. $54).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Jose City College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 36%)

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.