Saddleback College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 19,212 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Saddleback 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: Saddleback College 27:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Saddleback College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than San Diego Mesa College ($8,122 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saddleback College are 17.5% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($25,769 vs. $31,243).
• Saddleback 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 18.6% higher at Saddleback College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $1,858 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Saddleback College (79% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 79.3% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($8,252 vs. $4,603).

Saddleback College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saddleback 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 Saddleback College.

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

Saddleback College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saddleback 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 Saddleback 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 $1,620 lower median loan debt than Saddleback College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,120).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saddleback College graduates ($46 vs. $63).
• More Saddleback College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.