San Diego Mesa College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in San Diego, California. It enrolls 16,098 students (a very 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.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
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
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes46
Value89
Affordability48
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for San Diego Mesa College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending San Diego Mesa 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 $5,814 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,814
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
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)
$1,146
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,002
Room & Board (off-campus)
$31,243
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,371
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
$3,842
$30,001 – $48,000
$5,316
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,883
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,576
Over $110,000
$13,977
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.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,59025%percentile
$4,725Medianpercentile
$5,75075%percentile
$9,50090%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 $4,500
↓ $225
No Pell $3,500
↓ $1,225
Dependent students $3,500
↓ $1,225
Independent students $4,500
↓ $225
Female students $4,354
↓ $371
Male students $4,500
↓ $225
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,500, close to what completers borrow ($4,725) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
12% of full-time students who enrolled at San Diego Mesa College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
12%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
—
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 San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $45,120 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,120
Earning > $25K
67%
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
$39,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,900, about 17% 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 ↑
17.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
San Diego Mesa College is home to 16,098 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students, 83% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
16,098
Part-Time
83%
First-Generation
49%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 42.3%6,809
White 27.8%4,474
Asian 13.3%2,136
Other 8.4%1,346
Black 6.9%1,112
International 0.4%63
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at San Diego Mesa College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySan Diego, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
San Diego Mesa College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
26 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at San Diego Mesa College is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
24:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$2,913
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,368
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
297 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
297
100%
$95,368
Pros & Cons of San Diego Mesa College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how San Diego Mesa College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
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
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about San Diego Mesa College.
How much does San Diego Mesa College cost?
The average net price after aid at San Diego Mesa College is $5,814 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is San Diego Mesa College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,120 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,814 per year. That's roughly 7.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is San Diego Mesa College known for?
San Diego Mesa College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Liberal Arts, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do San Diego Mesa College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering San Diego Mesa College are $45,120, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is San Diego Mesa College accredited?
Yes. San Diego Mesa College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend San Diego Mesa College?
San Diego Mesa College enrolls 16,098 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at San Diego Mesa College?
San Diego Mesa College graduates 12% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is San Diego Mesa College a public or private college?
San Diego Mesa College is a Public institution.
Where is San Diego Mesa College located?
San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, California.
What programs does San Diego Mesa College offer?
San Diego Mesa College offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Liberal Arts, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at San Diego Mesa College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at San Diego Mesa College is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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