Cerritos College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

Cerritos College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 19,212 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Cerritos 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: Cerritos College 26:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 29.3% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($22,088 vs. $31,243).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at Cerritos College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $2,002 more per year; $12,004 vs. $10,002).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at San Diego Mesa College (89% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 39.3% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($8,252 vs. $5,925).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Cerritos College and San Diego Mesa College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Cerritos College graduates ($4,500 vs. $6,000).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cerritos College graduates ($46 vs. $62).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cerritos College students, three years after graduation (41% vs. 35%).

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