San Diego Mesa College vs. Berkeley City College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Berkeley City College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 6,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Berkeley City College is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Berkeley City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; Berkeley City College 33:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. Berkeley City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College ($10,316 vs. $12,695).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Berkeley City College are 27% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,820 vs. $31,243).
• Berkeley City College is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $112 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Berkeley City College (about $104 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Berkeley City College (79% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 52.2% larger than aid received by Berkeley City College students ($8,252 vs. $5,422).

San Diego Mesa College vs. Berkeley City College Admissions comparison

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

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

San Diego Mesa College vs. Berkeley City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and Berkeley City 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 $3,400 more per year than Berkeley City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berkeley City College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 35%)

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.