San Diego Mesa College vs. Solano College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Solano College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 9,282 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Solano Community College is in Fairfield, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Solano Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; Solano Community College 27:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. Solano College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or Solano 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 Solano Community College than San Diego Mesa College ($7,102 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Solano Community College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,086 vs. $31,243).
• Solano Community College is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $26 more per year; $1,172.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Solano Community College (about $190 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,812.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Solano Community College than at San Diego Mesa College (85% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 80.2% larger than aid received by Solano Community College students ($8,252 vs. $4,579).

San Diego Mesa College vs. Solano College Admissions comparison

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

San Diego Mesa College vs. Solano College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and Solano 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 $1,500 more per year than Solano College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $5,303 lower median loan debt than Solano College graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,803).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Solano College graduates ($46 vs. $101).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Solano College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 27%)

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.