Monterey Peninsula College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

Compare Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, 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 Monterey Peninsula College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 7,173 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Monterey Peninsula College is located in Monterey, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); San Diego Mesa College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Monterey Peninsula 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: Monterey Peninsula College 23:1; San Diego Mesa College 23:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Diego Mesa College are 11% lower than at Monterey Peninsula College ($31,243 vs. $35,118).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Monterey Peninsula 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 Monterey Peninsula College than at San Diego Mesa College (85% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 62.2% larger than aid received by Monterey Peninsula College students ($8,252 vs. $5,088).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Monterey Peninsula College and San Diego Mesa College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Monterey Peninsula College Aug 29, 2027.

Loans and repayment

• More San Diego Mesa College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Monterey Peninsula College students, three years after graduation (41% vs. 31%).

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