CSM vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

College of San Mateo is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of San Mateo is located in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

CSM vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or Las Positas College? 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 Las Positas College ($5,831 vs. $8,669).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Las Positas College are 26.2% lower than at College of San Mateo ($23,076 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $164 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.1% higher at CSM than at Las Positas College (about $1,576 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Las Positas College (80% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of San Mateo students is 14.2% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($4,386 vs. $3,839).

CSM vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSM or Las Positas College? 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 Las Positas College and CSM.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSM - Open admission; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

CSM vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and Las Positas College? 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 $3,100 more per year than Las Positas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Las Positas College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 41%)

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.