MiraCosta College Tuition, Completion & Outcomes (2026)
MiraCosta College is a public certificate and vocational school in Oceanside, California, with about 10,278 students. Programs focus on certificates and workforce credentials that prepare students for skilled trades and technical careers. Typical net price after grant aid is about $7,339 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,158. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $43,845 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,158
- 2024 Average Net Price: $7,339 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 10,278 42.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 41.11%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
- First-Generation Students: 51.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 45.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 23.1%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,758
- Room & Board: $34,328 annual estimate
MiraCosta College: what the data shows
Common questions about MiraCosta College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is MiraCosta College?
MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA (ZIP 92056-3899).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is MiraCosta College public or private?
MiraCosta College is a Public institution.
How much does MiraCosta College cost?
Published tuition: $1,158 in-state, $9,750 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $7,339.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $6,535 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $5,560 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,222 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $11,172 |
| $110,001+ | $12,855 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $4,632.
How big is MiraCosta College?
Total enrollment: 10,278 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 17,758 students.
About 43% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at MiraCosta College?
150%-time completion rate: 41.11%.
First-year retention: 90.9%.
What do graduates of MiraCosta College earn?
Median earnings: $37,965 six years after entry; $43,845 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $9,000.
27.38% of students receive Pell grants.
What is MiraCosta College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (1,518 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (287 completions)
- Biological and Physical Sciences (261 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (222 completions)
- Psychology, General (142 completions)
- Humanities/Humanistic Studies (109 completions)
- Biomedical Technology/Technician (88 completions)
- Medical/Clinical Assistant (81 completions)
- Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping (81 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (62 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is MiraCosta College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 41.11%; median earnings $43,845 at 10 years; net price $7,339. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,158
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at MiraCosta College was $1,158.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$7,339
2024 Value
In 2024 MiraCosta College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $7,339.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$29,356 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$7,339 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$4,632 4-Year In-State Tuition
$39,000 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$34,328 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$36,548 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$146,192 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for MiraCosta College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
27.38% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
2.34% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at MiraCosta College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for MiraCosta College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,148 | $5,588 | $3,451 |
| 2014 | $1,152 | $5,784 | $5,434 |
| 2015 | $1,152 | $5,952 | $6,141 |
| 2016 | $1,152 | $6,216 | $4,522 |
| 2017 | $1,152 | $6,768 | $1,712 |
| 2018 | $1,336 | $6,768 | $3,728 |
| 2019 | $1,152 | $7,512 | $1,682 |
| 2020 | $1,152 | $8,112 | $3,995 |
| 2021 | $1,152 | $8,520 | $4,318 |
| 2022 | $1,152 | $8,448 | $4,930 |
| 2023 | $1,152 | $9,120 | $7,178 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
MiraCosta College reported total enrollment of about 10,278 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 42% male and 58% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (44.7%), White (33.4%), and Asian (7.0%). About 27.38% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 51.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
42.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at MiraCosta College in 2024 is 10,278 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 17,758 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
90.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 44.7%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
91.30% 100% Completion Time
41.11% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 91.30% of students graduating from MiraCosta College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 38% male / 62% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 57% male / 43% female
- Biological and Physical Sciences: 38% male / 62% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for MiraCosta College.
Return on Investment
$9,000 Median Student Debt
$43,845 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
20.53% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1393.56% Return on Investment
2.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for MiraCosta College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 83 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 1,518 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 287 completions
3. Biological and Physical Sciences: 261 completions
4. Child Care Provider/Assistant: 222 completions
5. Psychology, General: 142 completions
6. Humanities/Humanistic Studies: 109 completions
7. Biomedical Technology/Technician: 88 completions
8. Medical/Clinical Assistant: 81 completions
9. Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping: 81 completions
Most popular programs at MiraCosta College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for MiraCosta College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for MiraCosta College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 23.1%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $14,957
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,169
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
MiraCosta College is a public institution located in Oceanside, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, Biological and Physical Sciences. Enrollment is approximately 10,278 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (44.7%), White (33.4%), Asian (7.0%). The 150%-time completion rate is 41.11%. Approximately 27.38% of students receive Pell Grants. About 51.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
Location
Oceanside, CA 92056-3899
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 83 distinct degree programs, MiraCosta College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is MiraCosta College located?
MiraCosta College is located in Oceanside, CA.
How much does MiraCosta College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,158 and average net price is $7,339 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $34,328 annually.
What is the student body demographics at MiraCosta College?
MiraCosta College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 17,758 students, Hispanic or Latino (44.7%), White (33.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend MiraCosta College?
About 51.0% of students at MiraCosta College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of MiraCosta College earn?
Median earnings are $37,965 six years after entry and $43,845 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at MiraCosta College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 41.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do MiraCosta College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $9,000.
Is MiraCosta College public or private?
MiraCosta College is a public institution located in Oceanside, CA.
Is MiraCosta College an HBCU?
No. MiraCosta College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is MiraCosta College a tribal college?
No. MiraCosta College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is MiraCosta College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—MiraCosta College reports 44.7% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is MiraCosta College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for MiraCosta College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Oceanside, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Oceanside, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.