The MiraCosta Community College District is located in San Diego County along the Southern California coast, between Orange County to the north (95 miles) and the metropolitan area of San Diego to the south (35 miles). The District includes the cities of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Del Mar, the unincorporated areas of La Costa, Olivenhain, and portions of Carmel Valley and Camp Pendleton Marine Base. 

North San Diego County is nationally known for its exceptional K-12 schools and the plethora of superb higher education choices. Local colleges and universities include Cal State San Marcos, National University, Palomar College, San Diego State University, UCSD and University of San Diego, among others.

 

The San Diego Tourism Authority website describes San Diego's North County as a vast, expansive region known for its pristine beaches, natural preserves, and miles of open spaces. From Del Mar to Oceanside, the North County coastline is a string of unique picturesque seaside villages that have a small-town feel.

If you're looking for opportunities for outdoor activities in San Diego, the north region has plenty. From hiking and horseback riding in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking in Carlsbad Lagoon, to biking along historic Highway 101, or sport fishing, whale watching or surfing the coastline from La Jolla through Oceanside, outdoor enthusiasts are sure to be entertained. San Diego's north coastal town of Encinitas was recently named among the best surf towns in the world by National Geographic. 

The North County Coastal region is home to some of San Diego's top attractions, including LEGOLAND California, Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland Water Park, the Flower Fields at Carlsbad, and the Del Mar Fairgrounds, host to the Del Mar Fair from mid-June to early July, followed by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Races until early September. There's also the San Diego Botanic Garden for a look at San Diego native flora and fauna, and at the Eastern border of North County, you'll also find the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Las Vegas-style Indian casino gaming and a handful of great wineries and local breweries. Art enthusiasts will love the Oceanside Museum of Art and the LUX Art Institute.

San Diego's North County coastal and inland regions are also a paradise for golfers, with over 40 diverse courses to choose from. Graced by cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean, the Arnold Palmer-designed Park Hyatt Aviara and Tom Fazio-designed Grand Del Mar golf courses are uniquely sculpted around the natural landscapes and native vegetation.

San Diego's north region puts you just an hour from Disneyland yet still close to downtown San Diego where the museums of Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, the Gaslamp Quarter and SeaWorld San Diego are nearby.

North San Diego County is home to eight of the county’s fastest growing cities, businesses and families are drawn to North County’s sunny inland valleys and scenic coastal communities. Additional information about the business environment can be found on the San Diego North Economic Development Council website or on the Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, or San Diego Coastal Chamber of Commerce websites. 

MiraCosta College’s San Elijo Campus opened in 1988 and is situated on 42 acres facing the San Elijo Lagoon in Cardiff. The campus offers a general education credit program and a broad range of noncredit, fee-based Community Service classes and workshops.

Student services at the San Elijo Campus include Admissions and Records, Counseling, Tutoring, Testing, and Student Life and Leadership. The recently expanded and remodeled Student Center houses the campus bookstore, cafeteria, Student Services Office, and Health Services.

The Library and Information Hub houses computer labs, as well as the campus math and writing centers. Students may schedule appointments for financial aid, accessibility assistance for students with disabilities, job placement, Transfer Center counseling, and Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS).

MiraCosta’s Technology Career Institute, which opened in March 2015, trains skilled workers for such industries as high-tech manufacturing, maritime technology, and biotech manufacturing. The institute expands the college’s machinist certificate program and creates industry-recognized electronics engineering technician and robotics/automation certificate programs. These noncredit programs are run by the college's Community Education and Workforce Development Department.

The North San Diego Small Business Development Center (SBDC), hosted by MiraCosta College and located at the Technology Career Institute, is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The SBDC provides services to meet the needs of entrepreneurs throughout North San Diego County. These services are free or inexpensive and include one-on-one counseling and workshops.