Cerritos College vs. College of Marin

Comparable Facts

Compare Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA with College of Marin in Kentfield, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cerritos College is larger than College of Marin based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); College of Marin is in Kentfield, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of Marin is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; College of Marin 17:1.

Cerritos College vs. College of Marin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos College or College of Marin? 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 Cerritos College than College of Marin ($4,325 vs. $14,662).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 10.4% lower than at College of Marin ($22,088 vs. $24,645).
• College of Marin is 14.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cerritos College (about $194 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,364.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at Cerritos College than at College of Marin (about $2,670 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at College of Marin (89% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Marin students is 3.2% larger than aid received by Cerritos College students ($6,117 vs. $5,925).

Cerritos College vs. College of Marin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cerritos College or College of Marin? 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 College of Marin and Cerritos College.

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

Cerritos College vs. College of Marin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos College and College of Marin? 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 Marin earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $8,375 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($6,000 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $86 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($62 vs. $148).
• More Cerritos College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Marin students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 29%)

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.