Orange Coast College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, 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 Orange Coast College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 17,096 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Orange Coast College is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Orange Coast 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: Orange Coast College 27:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Orange Coast College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College than San Diego Mesa College ($9,116 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 38.7% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($19,159 vs. $31,243).
• Orange Coast College is 21.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $246 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.4% higher at Orange Coast College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $1,638 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Orange Coast College (79% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 50.2% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($8,252 vs. $5,493).

Orange Coast College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College.

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

Orange Coast College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $600 more per year than San Diego Mesa College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Orange Coast College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Orange Coast College graduates ($46 vs. $67).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.