Cabrillo College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

College of San Mateo is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 9,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Cabrillo 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: Cabrillo College 20:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Cabrillo College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College ($5,831 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cabrillo College are 19.2% lower than at College of San Mateo ($25,281 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cabrillo College (about $62 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,270.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.4% higher at CSM than at Cabrillo College (about $1,522 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at College of San Mateo (85% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cabrillo College students is 27.7% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,600 vs. $4,386).

Cabrillo College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cabrillo College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027.

Cabrillo College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo 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 $4,600 more per year than Cabrillo College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Cabrillo College graduates ($7,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cabrillo College graduates ($72 vs. $108).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cabrillo College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 40%)

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.