San Diego Mesa College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($10,316 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Santa Barbara City College is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $94 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at SBCC than at San Diego Mesa College (about $430 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Santa Barbara City College (79% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 40.1% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($8,252 vs. $5,889).

San Diego Mesa College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Diego Mesa College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

San Diego Mesa College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and SBCC? 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 $1,200 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($46 vs. $98).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 39%)

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.