Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $19,371. 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 campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $1,146 | $10,002 |
| Housing & meals | — | — |
| Books & supplies | $938 | $938 |
| Personal & travel | — | — |
| Living-at-home adjustment | — | — |
| Total cost of attendance | $19,371 | $28,227 |
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
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
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
San Diego Mesa College net price compared with other California colleges
San Diego Mesa College has the 13th-lowest average net price of 115 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Cypress College | $4,606 | 37% | $43,533 |
| 10 | Solano Community College | $4,669 | 36% | $44,170 |
| 11 | Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses | $5,524 | 62% | $39,248 |
| 12 | California State University-Bakersfield | $5,652 | 50% | $59,009 |
| 13 | San Diego Mesa College | $5,814 | 35% | $45,120 |
| 14 | California State University-Stanislaus | $6,067 | 53% | $63,188 |
| 15 | California State University-Fullerton | $6,555 | 70% | $62,951 |
| 16 | California State University-Fresno | $7,000 | 57% | $61,244 |
| 17 | California State University-Northridge | $7,021 | 57% | $59,115 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All California colleges →
Why San Diego Mesa College costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Mesa College | — | $5,814 | 35% | $45,120 | This school |
| Modesto Junior College | — | $2,818 | 30% | $42,368 | |
| Cypress College | — | $4,606 | 37% | $43,533 | |
| Rio Hondo College | — | $14,379 | 25% | $44,950 | |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | — | $3,860 | 34% | $36,526 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
San Diego Mesa College would cost you $2,996 more per year than Modesto Junior College, on average.
- Higher sticker price at San Diego Mesa College.
- San Diego Mesa College gives aided families $4,888 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, California resident | San Diego Mesa College | MJC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sticker price | $19,371 | $11,487 | +$7,884 |
| Average grants | −$13,557 | −$8,669 | −$4,888 |
| You pay | $5,814 | $2,818 | +$2,996 |
“+” means San Diego Mesa 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.
San Diego Mesa College cost questions
How much is tuition at San Diego Mesa College?
Tuition and fees are $1,146 a year for California residents and $10,002 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending San Diego Mesa College?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $19,371 a year for California residents living on campus and about $28,227 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at San Diego Mesa College?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $5,814 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $3,842; $48–75k pay $8,883; $110k+ pay $13,977. These figures are for California residents.
How much debt do San Diego Mesa College graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $4,500, and 8.8% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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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 San Diego Mesa College overview