Bakersfield College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, CA with College of San Mateo in San Mateo, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bakersfield College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Bakersfield College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bakersfield College 31:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Bakersfield College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bakersfield College or CSM? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of San Mateo than Bakersfield College ($5,831 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bakersfield College are 22.7% lower than at College of San Mateo ($24,192 vs. $31,288).
• Bakersfield College is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $98 more per year; $1,430.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at CSM than at Bakersfield College (about $84 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $11,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bakersfield College than at College of San Mateo (85% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bakersfield College students is 35.4% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,940 vs. $4,386).

Bakersfield College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bakersfield College or CSM? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSM and Bakersfield College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bakersfield College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.

Bakersfield College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bakersfield College and CSM? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from College of San Mateo earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Bakersfield College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $1,955 lower median loan debt than Bakersfield College graduates ($7,000 vs. $8,955).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bakersfield College graduates ($72 vs. $92).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bakersfield College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.