Mission College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mission College in Santa Clara, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Mission College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 6,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mission College is located in Santa Clara, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Mission College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mission College 26:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Mission College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mission College or San Diego Mesa 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 Mission College than San Diego Mesa College ($7,646 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Diego Mesa College are 11.6% lower than at Mission College ($31,243 vs. $35,361).
• Mission College is 25.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $292 more per year; $1,438.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25% higher at Mission College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,498 more per year; $12,500.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Mission College (79% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 71.2% larger than aid received by Mission College students ($8,252 vs. $4,820).

Mission College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mission College or San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College and Mission College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mission College - Open admission; San Diego Mesa College - Open admission.

Mission College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mission College and San Diego Mesa 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 Mission College earn a median of about $400 more per year than San Diego Mesa College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Mission College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 41%)

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.