MiraCosta College vs. SCC

Comparable Facts

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

Santiago Canyon College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (11,897 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santiago Canyon College is in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santiago Canyon College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Santiago Canyon College 34:1.

MiraCosta College vs. SCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or SCC? 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 Santiago Canyon College than MiraCosta College ($6,573 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santiago Canyon College are 35.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,086 vs. $34,328).
• Santiago Canyon College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $6 more per year; $1,164.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at MiraCosta College than at Santiago Canyon College (about $138 more per year; $9,750.00 vs. $9,612.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Santiago Canyon College (81% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santiago Canyon College students is 31.3% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,580 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. SCC Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. SCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and SCC? 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).

• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCC students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 41%)

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.