MiraCosta College vs. Skyline College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Skyline College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 9,572 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Skyline College is in San Bruno, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Skyline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Skyline College 29:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Skyline College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Skyline 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 Skyline College than MiraCosta College ($6,639 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Skyline College are 8.9% lower than at MiraCosta College ($31,288 vs. $34,328).
• Skyline College is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $114 more per year; $1,272.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at Skyline College than at MiraCosta College (about $206 more per year; $9,956.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Skyline College (81% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 15.5% larger than aid received by Skyline College students ($5,013 vs. $4,341).

MiraCosta College vs. Skyline College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. Skyline College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Skyline 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 Skyline College earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,300 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Skyline College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MiraCosta College students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.