Cerro Coso Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Cerro Coso Community College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 5,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerro Coso Community College is located in Ridgecrest, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Cerro Coso Community 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: Cerro Coso Community College 24:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerro Coso Community College or San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College than Cerro Coso Community College ($10,316 vs. $20,045).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerro Coso Community College are 22.6% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($24,192 vs. $31,243).
• Cerro Coso Community College is 20.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $238 more per year; $1,384.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.5% higher at Cerro Coso Community College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $1,252 more per year; $11,254.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Cerro Coso Community College (79% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 51% larger than aid received by Cerro Coso Community College students ($8,252 vs. $5,464).

Cerro Coso Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerro Coso Community College or San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College and Cerro Coso Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerro Coso Community College - Open admission; San Diego Mesa College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cerro Coso Community College Aug 20, 2027.

Cerro Coso Community College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerro Coso Community College and San Diego Mesa 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 $9,000 more per year than Cerro Coso Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $32,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.