MiraCosta College vs. Southwestern College

Comparable Facts

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

Southwestern College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (20,986 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Southwestern College is in Chula Vista, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwestern College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Southwestern College 26:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Southwestern 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 Southwestern College ($9,044 vs. $15,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern College are 30.4% lower than at MiraCosta College ($23,897 vs. $34,328).
• Southwestern College is 16.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $186 more per year; $1,344.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at Southwestern College than at MiraCosta College (about $890 more per year; $10,640.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern College than at MiraCosta College (86% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 36.1% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,821 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. Southwestern College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Southwestern 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 Southwestern College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,100 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern College and MiraCosta College graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Southwestern College and MiraCosta College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern 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.