MiraCosta College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

MiraCosta College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or SMC? 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 Monica College than MiraCosta College ($5,685 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 24.5% lower than at MiraCosta College ($25,908 vs. $34,328).
• MiraCosta College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $2 more per year; $1,158.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at SMC than at MiraCosta College (about $958 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Santa Monica College (81% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 10.5% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,540 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or SMC? 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 SMC 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; SMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

MiraCosta College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and SMC? 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 Monica College earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SMC graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.