Pierce College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, 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 Pierce College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 16,906 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Los Angeles Pierce 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: Los Angeles Pierce College 30:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Pierce College are 18.7% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($25,407 vs. $31,243).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Pierce College than at San Diego Mesa College (about $570 more per year; $10,572 vs. $10,002).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego Mesa College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (79% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 29% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students ($8,252 vs. $6,398).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Pierce College and San Diego Mesa College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego Mesa College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Pierce 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 Pierce College graduates ($46 vs. $108).
• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College students, three years after graduation (41% vs. 33%).

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