MiraCosta College vs. Shasta College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Shasta College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 9,073 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Shasta College is in Redding, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Shasta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Shasta College 28:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Shasta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Shasta College? 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 Shasta College than MiraCosta College ($7,289 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shasta College are 53.8% lower than at MiraCosta College ($15,844 vs. $34,328).
• Shasta College is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $39 more per year; $1,197.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at MiraCosta College than at Shasta College (about $897 more per year; $9,750.00 vs. $8,853.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shasta College than at MiraCosta College (89% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Shasta College students is 50.2% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($7,528 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. Shasta College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. Shasta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Shasta College? 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 MiraCosta College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Shasta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,000 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $4,466 lower median loan debt than Shasta College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,966).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shasta College graduates ($46 vs. $92).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shasta College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 36%)

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.