San Diego Mesa College vs. Shasta College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Shasta College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 9,073 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

San Diego Mesa College vs. Shasta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or Shasta 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 Shasta College than San Diego Mesa College ($7,289 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shasta College are 49.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($15,844 vs. $31,243).
• Shasta College is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $51 more per year; $1,197.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Shasta College (about $1,149 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $8,853.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shasta College than at San Diego Mesa College (89% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 9.6% larger than aid received by Shasta College students ($8,252 vs. $7,528).

San Diego Mesa College vs. Shasta College Admissions comparison

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

San Diego Mesa College vs. Shasta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and Shasta 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 $9,500 more per year than Shasta College 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 $4,466 lower median loan debt than Shasta College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,966).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shasta College graduates ($46 vs. $92).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shasta College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 36%)

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.