Chaffey College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Chaffey College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (22,460 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Chaffey 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: Chaffey College 25:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Chaffey College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College ($5,831 vs. $7,809).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chaffey College are 20% lower than at College of San Mateo ($25,038 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 12.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chaffey College (about $148 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at CSM than at Chaffey College (about $264 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $11,120.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chaffey College than at College of San Mateo (87% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chaffey College students is 31.9% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,787 vs. $4,386).

Chaffey College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

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

Chaffey College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chaffey 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 $9,500 more per year than Chaffey College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Chaffey College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 35%)

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.