MiraCosta College vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

Sierra College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (19,125 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Sierra College 25:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Sierra 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 MiraCosta College than Sierra College ($9,044 vs. $10,285).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 60.3% lower than at MiraCosta College ($13,631 vs. $34,328).
• Sierra College is 24.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $288 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 574.3% higher at MiraCosta College than at Sierra College (about $8,304 more per year; $9,750.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Sierra College (81% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($5,013 vs. $5,006).

MiraCosta College vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Sierra 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 Sierra College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,100 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 32%)

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.