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Palomar College Pasadena City College ECC Los Angeles City College West Los Angeles College SBCC Pierce College De Anza College Orange Coast College GCC San Diego Miramar College DVC| MiraCosta College | Santa Monica College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
MiraCosta College | SMC | ||
| Location | Oceanside, CA | Santa Monica, CA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 10,860 | 22,375 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | miracosta.edu | smc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MiraCosta College | SMC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,104 | $1,104 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,400 | $9,048 | ||
| Room & Board | $22,572 | $11,556 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $7,281 | $6,656 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,222 | $4,650 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 64% |
Admission |
MiraCosta College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 30, 2025 |
Academics |
MiraCosta College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 26:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
MiraCosta College | SMC | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $33,000 | $39,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $4,500 | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $46 | $67 |
Diversity |
MiraCosta College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 44% | 26% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 36% | 38% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
MiraCosta College | SMC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 94% | 76% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
MiraCosta College | SMC | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Santa Monica College is larger than than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (22,375 students vs. 10,860 students)
MiraCosta College vs. SMC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or SMC?
- MiraCosta College and SMC cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($1,104.00 vs. $1,104.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.7% higher at SMC than MiraCosta College ($9,048.00 vs. $8,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Santa Monica College than MiraCosta College ($6,656 vs. $7,281)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 95.3% lower than costs at MiraCosta College ($11,556 vs. $22,572)
- More students receive financial grant aid at MiraCosta College than Santa Monica College (74% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 12.3% larger than aid received Santa Monica College ($5,222 vs. $4,650)
Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or SMC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMC or MiraCosta College .
MiraCosta College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MiraCosta College or SMC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMC and MiraCosta College.
- Graduates from Santa Monica College earn on average $6,000 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $33,000)
- MiraCosta College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SMC graduates. ($4,500 vs. $6,500)
- MiraCosta College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than SMC graduates. ($46 vs. $67)
- More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/