San Diego Mesa College vs. FLC

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than FLC based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 11,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Folsom Lake College is in Folsom, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Folsom Lake College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; Folsom Lake College 29:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. FLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or FLC? 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 Folsom Lake College than San Diego Mesa College ($8,982 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Folsom Lake College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Folsom Lake College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $142 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.1% higher at FLC than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,614 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Folsom Lake College than at San Diego Mesa College (84% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 131.1% larger than aid received by Folsom Lake College students ($8,252 vs. $3,570).

San Diego Mesa College vs. FLC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Diego Mesa College or FLC? 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 FLC 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; FLC - Open admission.

San Diego Mesa College vs. FLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and FLC? 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than FLC graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,750).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FLC graduates ($46 vs. $80).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FLC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 33%)

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.