MiraCosta College vs. Riverside City College

MiraCosta College and Riverside City College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

MiraCosta College
Riverside City College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: MiraCosta College. Average net price is $9,044 vs $10,174 at Riverside City College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: MiraCosta College $33,000 vs Riverside City College $36,000 (median).
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Key differences

MiraCosta College Riverside City College
Acceptance rate
MiraCosta College-
Riverside City College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
MiraCosta College-
Riverside City College-
Average net price
MiraCosta College $1,130 less
MiraCosta College$9,044
Riverside City College$10,174
In-state tuition
MiraCosta College $270 less
MiraCosta College$1,158
Riverside City College$1,428
Out-of-state tuition
MiraCosta College $2,748 less
MiraCosta College$9,750
Riverside City College$12,498
Graduation rate
MiraCosta College-
Riverside City College-
Median earnings (10 years)
Riverside City College +$3,000
MiraCosta College$33,000
Riverside City College$36,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • MiraCosta College -
  • Riverside City College -
  • Admitted
  • MiraCosta College -
  • Riverside City College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • MiraCosta College Open
  • Riverside City College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • MiraCosta College Open
  • Riverside City College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • MiraCosta College
  • Riverside City College
  • Typical ACT score
  • MiraCosta College
  • Riverside City College
  • Average high school GPA
  • MiraCosta College -
  • Riverside City College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • MiraCosta College -
  • Riverside City College -
  • Admissions standards
  • MiraCosta College Unavailable
  • Riverside City College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • MiraCosta College
  • Riverside City College
  • SAT range
  • MiraCosta College
  • Riverside City College
  • ACT range
  • MiraCosta College
  • Riverside City College
  • Submit test scores
  • MiraCosta College Open admission
  • Riverside City College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • MiraCosta College
  • Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • MiraCosta College $1,158
  • Riverside City College $1,428
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • MiraCosta College $9,750
  • Riverside City College $12,498
  • Room & board
  • MiraCosta College $34,328
  • Riverside City College $26,740
  • Average net price
  • MiraCosta College $9,044
  • Riverside City College $10,174
  • Average grant aid
  • MiraCosta College $5,013
  • Riverside City College $6,463
  • % receiving grant aid
  • MiraCosta College 81%
  • Riverside City College 78%
  • Graduation rate
  • MiraCosta College -
  • Riverside City College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • MiraCosta College $33,000
  • Riverside City College $36,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • MiraCosta College 46%
  • Riverside City College 41%
  • Median student loan debt
  • MiraCosta College $4,500
  • Riverside City College $8,000
  • Median loan payment
  • MiraCosta College $46
  • Riverside City College $82
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • MiraCosta College 18:1
  • Riverside City College 26:1
  • Popular majors
  • MiraCosta College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (36%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (4%)
  • Riverside City College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (40%)
    • General Studies (15%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
    • Business (5%)
  • Location
  • MiraCosta College Oceanside, CA
  • Riverside City College Riverside, CA
  • Setting
  • MiraCosta College Large Suburban
  • Riverside City College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • MiraCosta College 11,478
  • Riverside City College 21,730
  • Type
  • MiraCosta College Public 2 Year
  • Riverside City College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • MiraCosta College
  • Riverside City College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverside City College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (21,730 students vs. 11,478 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting); Riverside City College is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
  • MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Riverside City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: MiraCosta College 18:1; Riverside City College 26:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Riverside City College are 22.1% lower than at MiraCosta College ($26,740 vs. $34,328).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.2% higher at Riverside City College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,748 more per year; $12,498 vs. $9,750).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Riverside City College (81% vs. 78%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Riverside City College students is 28.9% larger than aid received by MiraCosta College students ($6,463 vs. $5,013).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both MiraCosta College and Riverside City College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Riverside City College Oct 20, 2026.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Riverside City College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,000).
  • Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Riverside City College graduates ($46 vs. $82).
  • More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverside City College students, three years after graduation (46% vs. 41%).

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

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