Costa Mesa, California Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Costa Mesa, California: median public in-state tuition $22,311 (+291.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $62,456 (+5.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $18,040 (+33.6% vs U.S.) 18,676 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Costa Mesa serve students across California with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 5 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 18,676 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $22,311. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Costa Mesa, California and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Costa Mesa vs California & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Mesa, California | $22,311 | $20,740 | $18,040 | 55.1% | 18,676 |
| California (state median) | $1,334 | $7,373 | $11,888 | 57.0% | 2,131,219 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Costa Mesa, California vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Mesa, California | $62,456 | 92.7% | 70.1% | 4.0% | — | 70.7% | 0.33 |
| California (state median) | $72,184 | 92.4% | 83.9% | 3.8% | — | 74.5% | 0.26 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
Other cities in California (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Mesa, California | $22,311 | $20,740 | $18,040 | 55.1% | 18,676 | $62,456 | 92.7% |
| Los Angeles | $19,196 | $26,276 | $19,151 | 70.2% | 120,534 | $78,572 | 92.3% |
| San Diego | $14,032 | $26,450 | $13,677 | 53.1% | 95,661 | $73,741 | 93.6% |
| Sacramento | $1,288 | $20,089 | $11,462 | 46.9% | 94,048 | $69,014 | 92.6% |
| Long Beach | $4,949 | $26,539 | $12,000 | 70.3% | 60,761 | $69,554 | 92.8% |
| Fullerton | $5,831 | $4,132 | $13,594 | 53.2% | 56,299 | $60,134 | 92.1% |
| Fresno | $8,224 | $21,108 | $11,411 | 53.1% | 54,532 | $64,448 | 92.7% |
| Riverside | $16,103 | $24,129 | $12,125 | 55.9% | 53,903 | $67,633 | 91.9% |
| Pasadena | $27,670 | $27,036 | $9,500 | 41.4% | 49,021 | $64,912 | 91.1% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
Top college in Costa Mesa, California by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 55.1%, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Top college in Costa Mesa, California by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.7%, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Most selective college in Costa Mesa, California (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 62.4%, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Top college in Costa Mesa, California by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $100,785, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Top college in Costa Mesa, California by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $102,239, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Top college in Costa Mesa, California by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,298, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Top college in Costa Mesa, California by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $55,330, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Top college in Costa Mesa, California by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $62,456, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Top college in Costa Mesa, California by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $159,136, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Most affordable college in Costa Mesa, California (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $23,231, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
Top college in Costa Mesa, California by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 70.1%, Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University of Southern California
In-state tuition: Costa Mesa, California vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Costa Mesa, California median in-state tuition is $22,311, +291.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Costa Mesa, California vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Costa Mesa, California is $18,040 (+33.6% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $11,888.
Median earnings (10 years out): Costa Mesa, California vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Costa Mesa, California center around $62,456 (+5.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Costa Mesa, California vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.7% at the median Costa Mesa, California campus (-0.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Costa Mesa, California median public in-state tuition is $22,311, about +291.4% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +579.4%.
Median graduate debt is $18,040 (+33.6% above the U.S. median of $13,500). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Costa Mesa, California are $62,456, about +5.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 92.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (-0.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 70.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 70.7% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Vanguard University of Southern California (92.7%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Costa Mesa, California is 55.1% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Costa Mesa?
This city profile covers 5 campuses in Costa Mesa, California with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Costa Mesa?
Median in-state tuition in Costa Mesa is $22,311 and median net price is $20,740. For California overall, medians are $1,334 and $7,373; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Costa Mesa?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Costa Mesa is $62,456 vs $72,184 for California and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Costa Mesa colleges?
Median completer debt in Costa Mesa is $18,040 vs $11,888 for California and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Costa Mesa?
Top campuses on this page include Vanguard University of Southern California (graduation) and Vanguard University of Southern California (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Costa Mesa?
Among 5 campuses in Costa Mesa, California, 4 campuses report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Department of Education data; examples include Orange Coast College, Vanguard University of Southern California, and Pacific College; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Assemblies of God Church (1).
Sources & related
- California college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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