MiraCosta College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

MiraCosta College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($9,044 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 35.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,086 vs. $34,328).
• Santa Barbara City College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $82 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at SBCC than at MiraCosta College (about $682 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Santa Barbara City College (81% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 17.5% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,889 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

MiraCosta College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and SBCC? 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 Barbara City College earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($46 vs. $98).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 39%)

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.