San Diego Mesa College vs. San Bernardino Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than San Bernardino Valley College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 14,055 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); San Bernardino Valley College is in San Bernardino, CA (Midsize City setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Bernardino Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; San Bernardino Valley College 25:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. San Bernardino Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or San Bernardino Valley 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 San Bernardino Valley College ($10,316 vs. $19,091).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Bernardino Valley College are 36% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($20,000 vs. $31,243).
• San Bernardino Valley College is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $50 more per year; $1,196.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.8% higher at San Bernardino Valley College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $4,380 more per year; $14,382.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at San Bernardino Valley College (79% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 120.9% larger than aid received by San Bernardino Valley College students ($8,252 vs. $3,735).

San Diego Mesa College vs. San Bernardino Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Diego Mesa College or San Bernardino Valley 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 Bernardino Valley 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; San Bernardino Valley College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Bernardino Valley College Aug 29, 2027.

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

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and San Bernardino Valley 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 $9,700 more per year than San Bernardino Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Bernardino Valley College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 28%)

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.