DR. SUNITA “SUNNY” COOKE SUPERINTENDENT/ PRESIDENT
MIRACOSTA COLLEGE
Thousands of North County high school seniors are making life-changing decisions about where to begin their higher education journey. Many of those decisions come with a price, as the Federal Reserve estimated national student loan debt at $1.5 trillion in 2019. In fact, more than half of young adults who go to college took on some debt, including student loans, to pay for their education.
NOT AT MIRACOSTA COLLEGE.
At just $46 per unit, registration fees at MiraCosta College are among the lowest in the nation, but thanks to the tuition-free MiraCosta Promise program, all first-time, full-time students receive their education free for two years. Even without the MiraCosta Promise, most students do not pay enrollment fees, as the California College Promise Grant (formerly the Board of Governors Fee Waiver) provides nearly half of all community college students with free tuition and this includes part-time students with financial need. Adding to affordability is MiraCosta College’s commitment to Open Education Resources and Zero-Textbook Cost classes that are slashing expenses for books and supplies.
Our students transfer to some of the best four-year colleges and universities in the nation having cut college costs in half.
High school students can get a head start on earning college credit through dual-enrollment options while they are still in high school. These are college-level courses taught cost-free by MiraCosta College professors at high school campuses that help students meet their general education requirements and increase the probability they’ll be accepted to a college or university of their choice. And every class taken through this program saves families in our district approximately $1,600 in university tuition.
California’s community colleges are the single biggest factor in helping people improve their socioeconomic status, and MiraCosta College students with a degree or certificate will earn on average $400,000 more over their working lifetime than their peers who only have a high school diploma. MiraCosta College is proud to play a critical role in preparing a diverse talent pipeline, and 90 percent of MiraCosta College students remain in the region after graduating. MiraCosta has been selected to help students obtain relevant work experience during their studies through valuable “earn and learn” grants and federal investments allowing them to apply their learning through local internships and service-learning.
MiraCosta College’s small class sizes and free resources for students allow faculty, classified staff, and administrators to make a difference daily in looking out for our students’ wellbeing and success.
MiraCosta College is proud to play an affordable and integral role in transforming lives, and we remain forever grateful for the support of our community, business, and education partners.