San Diego Mesa College vs. Delta

Comparable Facts

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

San Joaquin Delta College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (20,969 students vs. 19,212 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); San Joaquin Delta College is in Stockton, CA (Large City setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Delta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; San Joaquin Delta College 45:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. Delta Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or Delta? 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 Joaquin Delta College than San Diego Mesa College ($3,293 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Delta College are 30.9% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($21,600 vs. $31,243).
• San Joaquin Delta College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $34 more per year; $1,180.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at San Joaquin Delta College (about $230 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,772.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at San Joaquin Delta College (79% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 30.8% larger than aid received by San Joaquin Delta College students ($8,252 vs. $6,311).

San Diego Mesa College vs. Delta Admissions comparison

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

San Diego Mesa College vs. Delta Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and Delta? 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 $6,700 more per year than Delta graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Delta graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Delta graduates ($46 vs. $72).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Delta students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 24%)

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.