MiraCosta College vs. Solano College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Solano College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 9,282 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Solano Community College is in Fairfield, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Solano Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Solano Community College 27:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Solano College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Solano 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 Solano Community College than MiraCosta College ($7,102 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Solano Community College are 35.7% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,086 vs. $34,328).
• Solano Community College is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $14 more per year; $1,172.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at Solano College than at MiraCosta College (about $62 more per year; $9,812.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Solano Community College than at MiraCosta College (85% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Solano Community College students ($5,013 vs. $4,579).

MiraCosta College vs. Solano College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. Solano College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Solano 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 Solano Community College earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,100 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $5,303 lower median loan debt than Solano College graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,803).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Solano College graduates ($46 vs. $101).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Solano College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 27%)

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.