San Diego Mesa College vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Sierra College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 19,125 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; Sierra College 25:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or Sierra 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 Sierra College than San Diego Mesa College ($10,285 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 56.4% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($13,631 vs. $31,243).
• Sierra College is 26.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $300 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 591.7% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Sierra College (about $8,556 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sierra College than at San Diego Mesa College (80% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 64.8% larger than aid received by Sierra College students ($8,252 vs. $5,006).

San Diego Mesa College vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

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

San Diego Mesa College vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and Sierra 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 $5,500 more per year than Sierra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $36,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 32%)

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.