MiraCosta College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

Compare MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA with Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pasadena City College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

MiraCosta College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MiraCosta College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than MiraCosta College ($6,888 vs. $9,044).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 43.4% lower than at MiraCosta College ($19,431 vs. $34,328).
• Pasadena City College is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $22 more per year; $1,180.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Pasadena City College than at MiraCosta College (about $70 more per year; $9,820.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Pasadena City College (81% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 34.8% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,759 vs. $5,013).

MiraCosta College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MiraCosta College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College and MiraCosta College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MiraCosta College - Open admission; Pasadena City College - Open admission.

MiraCosta College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MiraCosta College and Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Pasadena City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $5,500).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pasadena City College graduates ($46 vs. $56).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pasadena City College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 36%)

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.