College of Marin vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Marin in Kentfield, 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 College of Marin based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 4,838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Marin is located in Kentfield, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• College of Marin is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Marin 17:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

College of Marin vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Marin 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 College of Marin ($5,831 vs. $14,662).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Marin are 21.2% lower than at College of San Mateo ($24,645 vs. $31,288).
• College of Marin is 17% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $226 more per year; $1,558.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22% higher at CSM than at College of Marin (about $2,050 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,334.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at College of Marin (80% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Marin students is 39.5% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,117 vs. $4,386).

College of Marin vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Marin 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 College of Marin.

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

College of Marin vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Marin 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 $2,300 more per year than College of Marin graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $42,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $7,375 lower median loan debt than College of Marin graduates ($7,000 vs. $14,375).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Marin graduates ($72 vs. $148).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Marin students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.