East Los Angeles College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, CA with San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Los Angeles College is larger than San Diego Mesa College based on total student enrollment (33,677 students vs. 19,212 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Los Angeles College is located in Monterey Park, CA (Small City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• East Los Angeles 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: East Los Angeles College 33:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

East Los Angeles College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles College ($10,316 vs. $11,700).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Los Angeles College are 18.7% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($25,407 vs. $31,243).
• East Los Angeles College is 8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $92 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at East Los Angeles College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $570 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $10,002.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Los Angeles College than at San Diego Mesa College (85% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 16.3% larger than aid received by East Los Angeles College students ($8,252 vs. $7,098).

East Los Angeles College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, East Los Angeles College or San Diego Mesa College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between San Diego Mesa College and East Los Angeles College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: East Los Angeles College - Open admission; San Diego Mesa College - Open admission.

East Los Angeles College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for East Los Angeles College and San Diego Mesa College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from San Diego Mesa College earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than East Los Angeles College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $1,316 lower median loan debt than East Los Angeles College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,816).
• Among borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than East Los Angeles College graduates ($46 vs. $60).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former East Los Angeles College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 39%)

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.