Cabrillo College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 9,457 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego Mesa College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cabrillo College are 19.1% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($25,281 vs. $31,243).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Cabrillo College (about $140 more per year; $10,002 vs. $9,862).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at San Diego Mesa College (85% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 47.4% larger than aid received by Cabrillo College students ($8,252 vs. $5,600).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Cabrillo College and San Diego Mesa College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Cabrillo College graduates ($4,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cabrillo College graduates ($46 vs. $108).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cabrillo College students, three years after graduation (41% vs. 40%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.