San Diego Mesa College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 2,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is in Visalia, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; San Joaquin Valley College Visalia 28:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ($10,316 vs. $27,525).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia are 71.9% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($8,764 vs. $31,243).
• San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is 1,349% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $15,460 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66% higher at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia than at San Diego Mesa College (about $6,604 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia than at San Diego Mesa College (85% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 52% larger than aid received by San Joaquin Valley College Visalia students ($8,252 vs. $5,430).

San Diego Mesa College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Diego Mesa College or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia - Open admission.

San Diego Mesa College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 $9,500 more per year than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $11,300 lower median loan debt than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($4,500 vs. $15,800).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $117 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($46 vs. $163).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 29%)

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.