MiraCosta College vs. SAC

Deciding between MiraCosta College and Santa Ana College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

MiraCosta College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MiraCosta College Oceanside, CA
  • SAC Santa Ana, CA
  • Setting
  • MiraCosta College Large Suburban
  • SAC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MiraCosta College 11,478
  • SAC 27,248
  • Type
  • MiraCosta College Public 2 Year
  • SAC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MiraCosta College
  • SAC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MiraCosta College -
  • SAC -
  • Status
  • MiraCosta College Non-profit
  • SAC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MiraCosta College
  • SAC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MiraCosta College $1,158
  • SAC $1,180
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MiraCosta College $9,750
  • SAC $10,756
  • Room & Board
  • MiraCosta College $34,328
  • SAC $22,126
  • Average Net Price
  • MiraCosta College $9,044
  • SAC $5,894
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MiraCosta College $5,013
  • SAC $6,768
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MiraCosta College 81%
  • SAC 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MiraCosta College -
  • SAC -
  • Admitted
  • MiraCosta College -
  • SAC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MiraCosta College Open
  • SAC Open
  • Enrolled
  • MiraCosta College Open
  • SAC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • MiraCosta College
  • SAC
  • Typical ACT score
  • MiraCosta College
  • SAC
  • Average High School GPA
  • MiraCosta College -
  • SAC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MiraCosta College -
  • SAC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • MiraCosta College Unavailable
  • SAC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • MiraCosta College
  • SAC
  • ACT Range
  • MiraCosta College
  • SAC
  • SAT Range
  • MiraCosta College
  • SAC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MiraCosta College Open admission
  • SAC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • MiraCosta College
  • SAC Apr 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MiraCosta College 18:1
  • SAC 33:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MiraCosta College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (4%)
  • SAC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (56%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Work and Family Studies (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MiraCosta College -
  • SAC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MiraCosta College $33,000
  • SAC $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MiraCosta College 46%
  • SAC 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MiraCosta College $4,500
  • SAC $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MiraCosta College $46
  • SAC $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MiraCosta College 42%
  • SAC 58%
  • % Women
  • MiraCosta College 58%
  • SAC 42%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MiraCosta College High
  • SAC High
  • HBCU
  • MiraCosta College No
  • SAC No
  • % White
  • MiraCosta College 44%
  • SAC 21%
  • % Asian
  • MiraCosta College 6%
  • SAC 8%
  • % Black
  • MiraCosta College 3%
  • SAC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • MiraCosta College 36%
  • SAC 50%
  • % Native American
  • MiraCosta College 0%
  • SAC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MiraCosta College 0%
  • SAC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MiraCosta College 7%
  • SAC 1%
  • % International
  • MiraCosta College 2%
  • SAC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MiraCosta College 2%
  • SAC 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MiraCosta College 94%
  • SAC 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MiraCosta College 0%
  • SAC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MiraCosta College No
  • SAC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MiraCosta College No
  • SAC No
  • Meal Plan
  • MiraCosta College No
  • SAC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MiraCosta College No
  • SAC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • MiraCosta College Yes
  • SAC Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Ana College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (27,248 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Ana College is in Santa Ana, CA (Large City setting).
  • MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Ana College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Santa Ana College 33:1.

MiraCosta College vs. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or SAC? 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 Santa Ana College than MiraCosta College ($5,894 vs. $9,044).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Ana College are 35.5% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,126 vs. $34,328).
  • Santa Ana College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $22 more per year; $1,180.00 vs. $1,158.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at SAC than at MiraCosta College (about $1,006 more per year; $10,756.00 vs. $9,750.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Ana College than at MiraCosta College (89% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Ana College students is 35% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,768 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. SAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or SAC? 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 SAC 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; SAC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SAC Apr 1, 2027.

MiraCosta College vs. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and SAC? 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 Santa Ana College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than SAC graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,500).
  • Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SAC graduates ($46 vs. $77).
  • More SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MiraCosta College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.