MiraCosta College celebrates 90 years of excellence and community service



MiraCosta College is excited to commemorate its 90th Anniversary in 2024. The college has provided diverse educational opportunities to the vibrant North Coastal San Diego County community for nearly a century. We look forward to celebrating our enduring commitment to educational opportunity and community enrichment with our community partners, supporters, donors, alumni, faculty, and students.

Since 1934, MiraCosta College has been transforming lives. As we celebrate our 90th year, we honor the legacy of those who came before us and pledge to continue providing transformative education and opportunities for all. Our commitment to excellence, equity, access, and inclusion remains unwavering as we look forward to shaping the future of education in our community and beyond. MiraCosta College includes four campuses: the Oceanside Campus, the San Elijo Campus in Cardiff, the Community Learning Center, and the Technology Career Institute in Carlsbad, which reflect our mission to provide a wide array of educational pathways. Serving almost 27,000 credit, noncredit, and fee-based students annually, MiraCosta is designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and a military-supportive institution. MiraCosta offers associate degrees, university transfer programs, and workforce readiness certificates and is one of the original 15 California community colleges to offer a bachelor’s degree.



The 90th Anniversary Celebration will showcase the completion of various construction projects, including the new Kinesiology, Health and Nutrition building, Gymnasium, the Student Services building, Library and Learning Commons, and the Nursing Simulation Labs, funded by the Measure MM $455 million bond. These state-of-the-art facilities are not just physical structures but symbols of our promise to provide an accessible, high-quality education that meets the evolving needs of our community. As we celebrate this momentous year, we reflect on our journey from humble beginnings in a wing at Oceanside High School to an educational, cultural, and community hub. We started as a “junior college” providing students opportunities to bridge high school and university.

Today, MiraCosta College’s comprehensive programs and services include over 80 associate degrees and certificates, university transfer, workforce and economic development programs, and a bachelor’s degree. Thoughtfully designed programs also accommodate the unique challenges of adult learners, individuals differently abled, those preparing for new careers, senior citizens, and non-native English speakers. Our role promotes regional growth and economic development through our North San Diego Small Business Development Center and South California Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), which foster regional growth and economic development.

Our efforts have led to national recognition, such as being designated a national Achieving the Dream Leader College and nominated multiple years in the top 15 percent of U.S. community colleges as an Aspen Prize nominee. Approximately 90 percent of our alumni remain within our community. The best prize is our students’ accomplishments through national awards, scholarships, and significant impact on our community.

We look forward to commemorating our past, celebrating our present, and embarking on a future transforming lives and shaping the future for the next 90 years and beyond.