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MiraCosta College

Public Bachelor's Strong 81/100

MiraCosta College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Oceanside, California

About MiraCosta College

MiraCosta College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Oceanside, California. It enrolls 10,278 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: miracosta.edu

Acceptance: —
Graduation: 18%
Net Price: $7,339
Median Earnings (10yr): $43,845
Enrollment: 10,278
Student : Faculty: 22:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

81/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online

Outcomes 74

Value 82

Affordability 53

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for MiraCosta College.

Acceptance Rate

—

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending MiraCosta College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,339 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$7,339

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

27%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $1,158
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $9,750
Room & Board (off-campus): $34,328
Books & Supplies: $1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,932
Total Cost of Attendance: $15,531

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$6,535
$30,001 – $48,000

$5,560
$48,001 – $75,000

$9,222
$75,001 – $110,000

$11,172
Over $110,000

$12,855

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,984

10% percentile

$3,473

25% percentile

$9,000

Median percentile

$9,500

75% percentile

$16,618

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $9,500 ↑ $500

No Pell $6,300 ↓ $2,700

Dependent students $4,935 ↓ $4,065

Independent students $9,500 ↑ $500

Female students $9,054 —

Male students $9,500 ↑ $500

What this means: 27% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.

Graduation Rate & Retention

18% of full-time students who enrolled at MiraCosta College graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

18%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

89%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered MiraCosta College earn a median of $43,845 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$43,845

Earning > $25K

68%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$30,700

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$40,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,900, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 10.8 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 64% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

MiraCosta College is home to 10,278 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 57% study part-time.

Total Enrolled

10,278

Part-Time

57%

First-Generation

51%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 44.7% 4,598

White 33.4% 3,433

Other 8.1% 834

Asian 7.1% 725

Black 3.7% 375

International 0.7% 73

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at MiraCosta College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Oceanside, California

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

36% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NAIA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

MiraCosta College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 71 distinct programs across 25 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

8 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

2 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

Biological and Physical Sciences $59K ($41K–$82K)
Behavioral Sciences $49K ($32K–$66K)

7 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Administration $59K ($42K–$80K)
Medical Assisting $69K ($46K–$91K)

9 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Software & Media $59K ($36K–$88K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Software & Media $59K ($36K–$88K)

5 Programs

Engineering Tech

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at MiraCosta College is 22:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

22:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$5,741

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$13M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$129,475

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

159 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Instructors	159	100%	$129,475

Pros & Cons of MiraCosta College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how MiraCosta College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Strong first-year retention
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options

CONS

Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel

Best for: Based on the data, MiraCosta College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about MiraCosta College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about MiraCosta College.

How much does MiraCosta College cost?

The average net price after aid at MiraCosta College is $7,339 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is MiraCosta College worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,845 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,339 per year. That's roughly 6.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is MiraCosta College known for?

MiraCosta College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do MiraCosta College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering MiraCosta College are $43,845, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is MiraCosta College accredited?

Yes. MiraCosta College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

How many students attend MiraCosta College?

MiraCosta College enrolls 10,278 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at MiraCosta College?

MiraCosta College graduates 18% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is MiraCosta College a public or private college?

MiraCosta College is a Public institution.

Where is MiraCosta College located?

MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, California.

What programs does MiraCosta College offer?

MiraCosta College offers 71 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Biological and Physical Sciences.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at MiraCosta College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at MiraCosta College is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.