MiraCosta College vs. SRJC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Rosa Junior College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (17,854 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Rosa Junior College is in Santa Rosa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Santa Rosa Junior College 20:1.

MiraCosta College vs. SRJC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or SRJC? 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 Rosa Junior College than MiraCosta College ($8,690 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Rosa Junior College are 36.9% lower than at MiraCosta College ($21,676 vs. $34,328).
• Santa Rosa Junior College is 13.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $160 more per year; $1,318.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16% higher at SRJC than at MiraCosta College (about $1,558 more per year; $11,308.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Rosa Junior College than at MiraCosta College (82% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Rosa Junior College students is 9.4% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($5,485 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. SRJC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or SRJC? 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 SRJC 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; SRJC - Open admission.

MiraCosta College vs. SRJC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and SRJC? 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 Rosa Junior College earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than SRJC graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SRJC graduates ($46 vs. $82).
• More SRJC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MiraCosta College students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.