San Diego Mesa College vs. SCC

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than SCC based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 11,897 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Santiago Canyon College is in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santiago Canyon College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; Santiago Canyon College 34:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. SCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or SCC? 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 Santiago Canyon College than San Diego Mesa College ($6,573 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santiago Canyon College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Santiago Canyon College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $18 more per year; $1,164.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Santiago Canyon College (about $390 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,612.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Santiago Canyon College (79% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 25.4% larger than aid received by Santiago Canyon College students ($8,252 vs. $6,580).

San Diego Mesa College vs. SCC Admissions comparison

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

San Diego Mesa College vs. SCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 41%)

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.