MiraCosta College vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA with California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University San Marcos is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 11,478 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University San Marcos are 58.8% lower than at MiraCosta College ($14,152 vs. $34,328).
• Out-of-state tuition is 112.1% higher at California State University-San Marcos than at MiraCosta College (about $10,932 more per year; $20,682 vs. $9,750).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at California State University San Marcos (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University San Marcos students is 121.9% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($11,123 vs. $5,013).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at MiraCosta College, test-free at California State University-San Marcos.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $13,495 lower median loan debt than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($4,500 vs. $17,995).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $140 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State University-San Marcos graduates ($46 vs. $186).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MiraCosta College students, three years after graduation (66% vs. 46%).

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