BaccalaureatePublicHSI
San Diego Mesa College
Acceptance
Open admission
—
6-yr Graduation
35%
+7.5pp vs Baccalaureate
Total enrollment
19,212
peer median 21,970
Avg net price
$5,814
-$576 vs Baccalaureate
Use this data
About
San Diego Mesa College is a public community college in San Diego, California. It is part of San Diego Community College District and the California Community Colleges system. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Overall completion
35%+7.5pp vs Baccalaureate
Overall completion
35%+7.5pp vs Baccalaureate
4-year graduation
92%
4-year graduation
92%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
92%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
92%
Pell equity
6.2pp gap
Pell recipients
31%168 of 535
Non-Pell (all)
37%279 of 751
Subsidized loan, no Pell
40%2 of 5
No Federal Aid
37%277 of 746
Non-Pell students graduate at a 6.2-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 165 Title IV programs, 13 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 152 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Total programs
165
Passing
13
7.9% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
0
0.0% of portfolio
Fail rate
0.0%
-0.6pp vs 0.6% national
Pass / fail distribution
165programs
- Passing13 · 7.9%
- No Data152 · 92.1%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Critical
0
Severe
0
Recoverable
0
At Risk
1
Watch
2
Safe
10
No data
152
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Program
Typical
Benchmark
EP gap
Romance Languages Literatures and Linguistics
Associate Degree · Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
$36,098
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
0.0%
+$16
Romance Languages Literatures and Linguistics
Associate Degree · Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
0.0%
$36,098 vs $36,082
English Language and Literature General
Associate Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
$41,826
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+15.9%
+$5,744
English Language and Literature General
Associate Degree · English Language And Literature/Letters
+15.9%
$41,826 vs $36,082
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Associate Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
$44,652
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+23.8%
+$8,570
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Associate Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
+23.8%
$44,652 vs $36,082
Sociology
Associate Degree · Social Sciences
$46,618
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+29.2%
+$10,536
Sociology
Associate Degree · Social Sciences
+29.2%
$46,618 vs $36,082
Psychology General
Associate Degree · Psychology
$48,650
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+34.8%
+$12,568
Psychology General
Associate Degree · Psychology
+34.8%
$48,650 vs $36,082
Biology General
Associate Degree · Biological And Biomedical Sciences
$49,919
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+38.3%
+$13,837
Biology General
Associate Degree · Biological And Biomedical Sciences
+38.3%
$49,919 vs $36,082
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
$50,872
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+41.0%
+$14,790
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Associate Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+41.0%
$50,872 vs $36,082
Biological and Physical Sciences
Associate Degree · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
$51,936
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+43.9%
+$15,854
Biological and Physical Sciences
Associate Degree · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
+43.9%
$51,936 vs $36,082
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Program
EP gap
Status
Romance Languages Literatures and Linguistics
Associate Degree · Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
0.0%
+$16
Just passing
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Program
Median debt
Median earnings
Debt burden
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Undergraduate Certificate · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
$6,600
$49,676
13%
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Undergraduate Certificate · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
$6,600 debt · $49,676 earn
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Accredited since 1966Next review Jan 2026
Programmatic accreditations · 3
Action history · 7
- Jun 2024Renewal of AccreditationAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Feb 2024Renewal of AccreditationJoint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology · Radiologic Technology (RAD) - Programs for radiographers
- Apr 2021Grant Substantive Change: ProgramAmerican Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation · Dental Assisting (DA)
- Jul 2020Grant Substantive Change: ProgramAmerican Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation · Dental Assisting (DA)
- Mar 2020Renewal of AccreditationJoint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology · Radiologic Technology (RAD) - Programs for radiographers
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Aid exceeds costFamily pays
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Avg net price
$5,814
-$576vs Baccalaureate median $6,390
Federal loans
1.8%
In-state tuition
$1,146
Out-of-state
$10,002
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 5,227 students received $22.9M in Pell grants, alongside $2.8M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients
5,227
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$22.9M
$22,936,387 total
Direct Loans
$2.8M
790 loan awards
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
3k’20
4k’21
4k’22
4k’23
5k’24
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Subsidized$1.8M
646 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$571K
124 loan awards
Parent PLUS$404K
20 loan awards
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 307 borrowers who entered repayment, 19 (6.1%) defaulted within three years — above the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate
6.1%
+3.8pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
307
Defaulted
19
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard
Default rate vs national, by cohort
2016
10.0%+0.7
2017
9.5%+0.3
2018
8.8%+1.8
2019
6.1%+3.8
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at San Diego Mesa College
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Distinct CIP programs86
UndergraduateOffered
Top program families by completions
1,275 total completions
01Business
35127.5%
01Business
35127.5%
02Multi/Interdisciplinary
16512.9%
02Multi/Interdisciplinary
16512.9%
03Psychology
14711.5%
03Psychology
14711.5%
04Biological Sciences
1199.3%
04Biological Sciences
1199.3%
05Health Professions
1088.5%
05Health Professions
1088.5%
06Liberal Arts
1078.4%
06Liberal Arts
1078.4%
07Social Sciences
927.2%
07Social Sciences
927.2%
08Visual/Performing Arts
695.4%
08Visual/Performing Arts
695.4%
09Computer Sciences
604.7%
09Computer Sciences
604.7%
10Foreign Languages
574.5%
10Foreign Languages
574.5%
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Fall total
19,212
12-mo unduplicated
31,036
Undergraduate
31,036
Graduate
0
Gender split
Men
46%14,156
Women
54%16,880
Race / ethnicity composition
Hispanic
42.3%
White
27.8%
Asian
13.3%
Two or more
7.6%
Black
6.9%
Unknown
1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.5%
Non-resident
0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.2%
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Athletes
414
288 M · 126 W
Women athletes
30.4%
Athletic aid
$0
Total student aid
Budget
$3.3M
Total expenses
Men vs women · spending splits
Athletic student aid
$0
$0
Recruiting expense
$0
$0
Head-coach salaries
$38K
$33K
Men Women
Sport-by-sport · 12
Sport
Men
Women
Expenses
Football
103
—
$347,574
Football
103 M · —
Track and Field (Outdoor)
51
26
$237,116
Track and Field (Outdoor)
51 M · 26 W
Soccer
34
24
$153,223
Soccer
34 M · 24 W
Baseball
43
—
$134,252
Baseball
43 M · —
Volleyball
22
19
$181,163
Volleyball
22 M · 19 W
Cross Country
16
14
$144,862
Cross Country
16 M · 14 W
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
0.47
9 offenses · 19,243 students
3-year trend
0.172 yrs ago0.331 yr ago0.47Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
18
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
24
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
2
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
0
Criminal offenses by type
Aggravated assault
3
Motor vehicle theft
3
Rape
1
Burglary
1
Fondling
1
By location
9total
- On campus6
- Public property3
VAWA offenses
1
Domestic violence
0
Dating violence
0
Stalking
1 total under the Violence Against Women Act.
Hate crimes by bias
- Ethnicity1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons01
Drugs40
Liquor00
Residence-hall fires
No residence-hall fires reported.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Student-to-faculty
23.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
261
San Diego Mesa College vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions San Diego Mesa College selected for federal comparison reporting.
This institutionPeer median
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectSan Diego Mesa College | 35% | Open admission | 19,212 | $5,814 | Baccalaureate |
| — | Open admission | 13,532 | $3,860 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 39,727 | $6,390 | Baccalaureate | |
| 50% | Open admission | 30,746 | $14,621 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 30,728 | $14,506 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 28,313 | $6,615 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 39,548 | $8,969 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 15,924 | $4,606 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 69,749 | $3,214 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 21,970 | $13,031 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 11,999 | $11,713 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 11,410 | $660 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 21,483 | $3,861 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 53,253 | $5,737 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 73,077 | $11,252 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 58,941 | $5,463 | Baccalaureate | |
| 0% | Open admission | 18,258 | $2,818 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 25,916 | $9,182 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 12,556 | $6,007 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 17,441 | $14,379 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 18,841 | $8,341 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 15,649 | $8,440 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 19,901 | $4,585 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 31,812 | $12,143 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 27,248 | $3,133 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 12,758 | $11,098 | Baccalaureate | |
| 81% | Open admission | 23,453 | $2,779 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 19,415 | $5,992 | Community College | |
| 20% | Open admission | 27,431 | $1,751 | Baccalaureate | |
| 0% | Open admission | 11,885 | $10,206 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 47,425 | $12,037 | Baccalaureate | |
| Peer group median | 28% | — | 21,970 | $6,390 |
Institutions like San Diego Mesa College
Explore the federal data for institutions in San Diego Mesa College's comparison group.
- BaccalaureateCalifornia
Antelope Valley Community College District
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment13,532Net price$3,860View data - BaccalaureateTexas
Austin Community College District
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment39,727Net price$6,390View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Bakersfield College
Grad rate50%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment30,746Net price$14,621View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Broward College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment30,728Net price$14,506View data - BaccalaureateNevada
College of Southern Nevada
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment28,313Net price$6,615View data - BaccalaureateTexas
Collin County Community College District
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment39,548Net price$8,969View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Cypress College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment15,924Net price$4,606View data - Community CollegeTexas
Dallas College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment69,749Net price$3,214View data - Community CollegeColorado
Front Range Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment21,970Net price$13,031View data - Community CollegeSouth Carolina
Greenville Technical College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,999Net price$11,713View data - BaccalaureateMichigan
Henry Ford College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,410Net price$660View data - Community CollegeFlorida
Hillsborough Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment21,483Net price$3,861View data - Community CollegeTexas
Houston Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment53,253Net price$5,737View data - Community CollegeTexas
Lone Star College System
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment73,077Net price$11,252View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Miami Dade College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment58,941Net price$5,463View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Modesto Junior College
Grad rate0%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment18,258Net price$2,818View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Palm Beach State College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment25,916Net price$9,182View data - BaccalaureateColorado
Pikes Peak State College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment12,556Net price$6,007View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Rio Hondo College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment17,441Net price$14,379View data - Community CollegeArizona
Rio Salado College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment18,841Net price$8,341View data - Community CollegeMissouri
Saint Louis Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment15,649Net price$8,440View data - Community CollegeTexas
San Antonio College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,901Net price$4,585View data - Community CollegeTexas
San Jacinto Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment31,812Net price$12,143View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Santa Ana College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment27,248Net price$3,133View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Santa Fe College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment12,758Net price$11,098View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Santa Monica College
Grad rate81%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment23,453Net price$2,779View data - Community CollegeOhio
Sinclair Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,415Net price$5,992View data - BaccalaureateTexas
South Texas College
Grad rate20%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment27,431Net price$1,751View data - BaccalaureateTexas
Tyler Junior College
Grad rate0%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment11,885Net price$10,206View data - BaccalaureateFlorida
Valencia College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment47,425Net price$12,037View data
San Diego Mesa College Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
Office
Office of Institutional Research
Reports to San Diego Community College District
Phone
619-388-2509
Address
7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, CA 92111-4998
Our mission is to build a culture of inquiry and foster data-informed decision making by providing research services, expertise, and coaching to the Mesa campus community in support of the college’s institutional effectiveness.
Visit IR office pageTeam
1 member
- Hai HoangDean, Institutional Effectiveness
Reports & documents (3)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardsdmesa.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planRoadmap to Mesa20302023San Diego Mesa College has outlined a strategic plan named Roadmap to Mesa2030, aiming to guide the college's growth and development from 2024 to 2030. The plan is structured around five primary goals: Completion, Scholarship, Pathways and Partnerships, Stewardship, and Community. Progress will be monitored through defined strategic objectives and college-wide progress measures, with special attention paid to equity across different student demographics.sdmesa.edu
Grants & funding (5)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
- opportunityCalGrantCalifornia Student Aid Commissioninstitution_site
- opportunityCalifornia College Promise GrantCalifornia Student Aid Commissioninstitution_site
- opportunityFederal Pell GrantU.S. Federal Governmentinstitution_site
- opportunityFederal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)U.S. Federal Governmentinstitution_site
- opportunityStudent Success Completion Grant (SSCG)California Student Aid Commissioninstitution_site
Notable alumni of San Diego Mesa College (13)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Annette BeningActing
- Nick BussAthletics
- Darren ComeauxAthletics
- Sam DaghlesAthletics
- Billy EpplerSports Management
- Monique HendersonAthletics
- Greg MintonAthletics
- Tony MuserAthletics
- Jim PetersonAthletics
- Arnie RobinsonAthletics
- Félix SánchezAthletics
- Snow Tha ProductMusic
Showing 1–12 of 13
1 / 2
Frequently asked questions about San Diego Mesa College
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about San Diego Mesa College.
What is the acceptance rate at San Diego Mesa College?
San Diego Mesa College does not have a reported acceptance rate. This institution has an open admission policy: it admits all applicants who meet basic requirements, so it does not report a selective admit rate.
What is the graduation rate at San Diego Mesa College?
San Diego Mesa College reports a 6-year graduation rate of 35% per the latest IPEDS.
How many students attend San Diego Mesa College?
San Diego Mesa College reports a total enrollment of 19,212 students per the latest IPEDS.
What is the average net price at San Diego Mesa College?
The average net price at San Diego Mesa College is $5,814 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.
Where is San Diego Mesa College located?
San Diego Mesa College is located in San Diego, California 92111-4998.
Who runs Institutional Research at San Diego Mesa College?
San Diego Mesa College's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Research, which reports to San Diego Community College District.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
Federal Pell Grant & loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →
Have a question this page can’t answer?
Ask Clema anything about San Diego Mesa College and its peers — plain language in, cited answers out, in minutes instead of days.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card