San Diego Mesa College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego Mesa College 23:1; West Valley College 29:1.

San Diego Mesa College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Diego Mesa College or West Valley 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 West Valley College than San Diego Mesa College ($7,270 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Diego Mesa College are 11.6% lower than at West Valley College ($31,243 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 30% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $344 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.9% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at West Valley College (about $1,300 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at San Diego Mesa College (81% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 71.7% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($8,252 vs. $4,806).

San Diego Mesa College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

San Diego Mesa College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Diego Mesa College and West Valley 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 $500 more per year than West Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego Mesa College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.