Mt. SAC vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mt San Antonio College in Walnut, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mt San Antonio College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (29,971 students vs. 19,212 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mt San Antonio College is located in Walnut, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Mt San Antonio 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: Mt San Antonio College 26:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Mt. SAC vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mt. SAC 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 Mt San Antonio College than San Diego Mesa College ($8,516 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mt San Antonio College are 18.1% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($25,587 vs. $31,243).
• Mt San Antonio College is 19% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $218 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at Mt. SAC than at San Diego Mesa College (about $462 more per year; $10,464.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Mt San Antonio College (79% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 19.4% larger than aid received by Mt San Antonio College students ($8,252 vs. $6,911).

Mt. SAC vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mt. SAC 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 Mt. SAC.

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

Mt. SAC vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mt. SAC 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 San Diego Mesa College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Mt. SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College and Mt. SAC graduates have the same median loan debt ($4,500 vs. $4,500).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, San Diego Mesa College and Mt. SAC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($46 vs. $46).
• More Mt. SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.