Napa Valley College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Napa Valley College in Napa, 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 Napa Valley College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 4,844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Napa Valley College is located in Napa, CA (Small City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Napa Valley 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: Napa Valley College 21:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Napa Valley College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Napa Valley 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 San Diego Mesa College than Napa Valley College ($10,316 vs. $19,587).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Napa Valley College are 27.7% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,599 vs. $31,243).
• Napa Valley College is 0.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $10 more per year; $1,156.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.1% higher at Napa Valley College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $1,906 more per year; $11,908.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Napa Valley College than at San Diego Mesa College (88% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 110.1% larger than aid received by Napa Valley College students ($8,252 vs. $3,927).

Napa Valley College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley College.

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

Napa Valley College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Napa Valley 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 Napa Valley College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than San Diego Mesa College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Napa Valley College graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Napa Valley College graduates ($46 vs. $77).
• More Napa Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.