MiraCosta College
A good fit for in-state California residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 10,474 students.
About This School
MiraCosta College is a public institution located in Oceanside, California with approximately 10,474 undergraduate students enrolled. In-state tuition is $1,152 per year. The graduation rate is 41%, and the typical graduate earns $34,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
MiraCosta College is a public community college serving coastal Northern San Diego County in California with two campuses, one in eastern Oceanside and the other in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and many satellite locations, including the Community Learning Center in western Oceanside.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the 86% freshman retention rate suggests students generally feel supported once they arrive, but a 41% graduation rate means many don't finish — worth asking about before enrolling. On the financial side, MiraCosta is genuinely affordable, with median debt of just $9,000, though median earnings of $34,300 a decade out are modest, so the payoff depends heavily on whether you transfer to a four-year school or pursue a high-demand career pathway. This is a strong option for students with a clear transfer plan to a UC or CSU, or those seeking affordable career training in coastal San Diego County — less so if you're hoping the degree alone will drive strong earnings.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (10,474 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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California State University-Long Beach
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University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public
San Diego State University
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University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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