MiraCosta College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

MiraCosta College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or West Valley 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 West Valley College than MiraCosta College ($7,270 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at MiraCosta College are 2.9% lower than at West Valley College ($34,328 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 28.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $332 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12% higher at MiraCosta College than at West Valley College (about $1,048 more per year; $9,750.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College as at West Valley College (81% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 4.3% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($5,013 vs. $4,806).

MiraCosta College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

MiraCosta College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and West Valley 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Valley College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 45%)

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.