MiraCosta College

One Barnard Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056
Top-Ranked (2026): View Rankings
  • MiraCosta College, one of California's comprehensive, public two-year community colleges, has served the coastal area of North San Diego County for 75 years. Recognizing that individuals and domestic and international communities are diverse and changing, the college is committed to offering a variety of programs and services in Transfer Education, Vocational Education, General Education, Basic Skills Education, Community Education and Support Services.

School Highlights

MiraCosta College serves 11,478 students (39% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 32:1 is lower than the state community college average of 44:1.
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 77%.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Enrollment: 11,478 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,152
  • Out-state tuition: $5,784
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Student-teacher ratio: 32:1
  • Minority enrollment: 64%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

MiraCosta College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

Category
Attribute
Affordability

School Overview

The teacher population of 360 teachers has declined by 44% over five years.
MiraCosta College
(CA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Institution Level
Four or more years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
360 staff
72 staff
School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of MiraCosta College has declined by 9% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 32:1 has increased from 20:1 over five years.
The MiraCosta College diversity score of 0.69 is more than the state average of 0.00. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
11,478 students
2,140 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
32:1
44:1
# Full-Time Students
4,431 students
1,022 students
# Part-Time Students
7,047 students
5,816 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
114 students
228 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
4,431 students
967 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
7,047 students
5,816 students
% Asian
8%
12%
% Hispanic
41%
46%
% Black
4%
7%
% White
36%
23%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%
% Non Resident races
1%
1%
% Unknown races
3%
6%
Diversity Score
0.69
0.00
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
32%
28%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
43%
43%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$31,100
$34,700

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $1,152 is less than the state average of $1,236. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $5,784 is less than the state average of $6,577. The out-state tuition has declined by 32% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$1,152
$1,236
Out-State Tuition Fees
$5,784
$6,577
Tuition Notes
$46.00 per unit
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
81%
85%
Median Debt for Graduates
$9,000
$10,500
Median Debt for Dropouts
$8,500
$6,272
Acceptance Rate
86%
81%
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • MiraCosta College is a public California community college serving coastal North San Diego County. The college was founded in 1934 as Oceanside-Carlsbad Junior College, the second community college in San Diego County. Changed name to MiraCosta College and moved to Barnard Drive location in 1964. Student Resources includes library and information hubs at both the Oceanside and San Elijo campuses; More than 1,000 networked computers for student use; Wellness Center at the Oceanside Campus; free tutoring in nearly every subject; more than 1,000 students participate in Service Learning projects related to class curricula; Honors Scholars Program and active national honor society. MiraCosta's Adult Learning Center opened in 1992 at a newly remodeled site on Horne Street. The center relocated to its current Mission Avenue location in 2000 and was renamed the Community Learning Center. Over the years the center has expanded its adult education offerings to include parenting classes, workshops for older adults, and programs for those who are physically and mentally challenged. The Cisco Academy, which offers training in computer networking, is also housed at the center. The college's Small Business Development Center is right next door. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does MiraCosta College cost?
MiraCosta College's tuition is approximately $1,152 for In-State students and $5,784 for Out-State students.
What is the acceptance rate of MiraCosta College?
The acceptance rate of MiraCosta College is 86%, which is higher than the state average of 81%.
What is MiraCosta College's ranking?
MiraCosta College ranks among the top 20% of community college in California for: Least expensive tuition.
In what neighborhood is MiraCosta College located?
MiraCosta College is located in the Mira Costa neighborhood of Oceanside, CA.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • Enrollment: 11,478 students
  • In-state tuition: $1,152
  • Out-state tuition: $5,784
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Student-teacher ratio: 32:1
  • Minority enrollment: 64%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

The average community college acceptance rate in San Diego County, CA is 88%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

San Diego County, CA community colleges have a diversity score of 0.71, which is higher than the national average of 0.00. The most diverse community college in San Diego County, CA is North-West College-San Diego. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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