MiraCosta College tuition, cost & net price

The sticker price at MiraCosta College is $15,531 a year for California residents. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $7,339 on average, and what your family pays depends mostly on income. Choose yours below.

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What your family pays
$7,339 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $15,531. College Scorecard.

Net price by family income

Average after grants and scholarships for California residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year

Sticker price, line by line

Per year, living on campusIn-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$1,158$9,750
Housing & meals——
Books & supplies$938$938
Personal & travel——
Living-at-home adjustment——
Total cost of attendance$15,531$24,123

Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.

Debt after graduation

Median federal loan debt$9,488
Loan default rate15.0%3-year rate, 2017 repayment cohort
Debt as a share of earnings 10 years out22%

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Who gets aid

Students with Pell Grants27%Federal grants for lower-income students
Grants for the average aided student$8,192Sticker price minus average net price

State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. At University of California and California State University campuses, the Middle Class Scholarship can also help families with income and assets up to $250,000 (2026-27, dependent students). Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission

College Scorecard

MiraCosta College net price compared with other California colleges

MiraCosta College has the 18th-lowest average net price of 115 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAvg. net priceGraduationEarnings, 10 yrs
14California State University-Stanislaus$6,06753%$63,188
15California State University-Fullerton$6,55570%$62,951
16California State University-Fresno$7,00057%$61,244
17California State University-Northridge$7,02157%$59,115
18MiraCosta College$7,33941%$43,845
19Foothill College$7,65356%$57,072
20California State University-Dominguez Hills$8,61543%$57,162
21California State University-East Bay$9,32048%$71,401
22California State University-Sacramento$9,33856%$64,876

College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All California colleges →

Why MiraCosta College costs more or less than similar schools

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
MiraCosta College—$7,33941%$43,845This school
Antelope Valley Community College District—$3,86034%$36,526
Solano Community College—$4,66936%$44,170
Skyline College—$1,73844%$55,702
Cypress College—$4,60637%$43,533

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

MiraCosta College would cost you $3,479 more per year than Antelope Valley Community College District, on average.

  • Higher sticker price at MiraCosta College.
  • Antelope Valley Community College District gives aided families $879 more in grants, on average.
Per year, California residentMiraCosta CollegeAntelope Valley Community College DistrictDifference
Sticker price$15,531$12,931+$2,600
Average grants−$8,192−$9,071+$879
You pay$7,339$3,860+$3,479

“+” means MiraCosta College costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

MiraCosta College cost questions

How much is tuition at MiraCosta College?

Tuition and fees are $1,158 a year for California residents and $9,750 for out-of-state students.

What is the total cost of attending MiraCosta College?

The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $15,531 a year for California residents living on campus and about $24,123 for out-of-state students.

What do families actually pay at MiraCosta College?

After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $7,339 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $6,535; $48–75k pay $9,222; $110k+ pay $12,855. These figures are for California residents.

How much debt do MiraCosta College graduates have?

The median federal loan debt at graduation is $9,488, and 15.0% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).

Is MiraCosta College the right fit for your family?

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to MiraCosta College overview