CSM vs. PGCC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of San Mateo in San Mateo, CA with Professional Golfers Career College in Temecula, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of San Mateo is larger than PGCC based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 70 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of San Mateo is located in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting); Professional Golfers Career College is in Temecula, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Professional Golfers Career College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; Professional Golfers Career College 17:1.

CSM vs. PGCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or PGCC? 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 PGCC ($5,831 vs. $35,686).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Professional Golfers Career College are 51.7% lower than at College of San Mateo ($15,113 vs. $31,288).
• Professional Golfers Career College is 1,314.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $17,508 more per year; $18,840.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.5% higher at PGCC than at College of San Mateo (about $7,456 more per year; $18,840.00 vs. $11,384.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Professional Golfers Career College (80% vs. 16%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of San Mateo students is 43.7% larger than aid received by Professional Golfers Career College students ($4,386 vs. $3,053).

CSM vs. PGCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSM or PGCC? 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 PGCC 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; PGCC - Open admission.

CSM vs. PGCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and PGCC? 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 Professional Golfers Career College earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than CSM graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,900 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than PGCC graduates ($7,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PGCC graduates ($72 vs. $124).
• More PGCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSM students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 58%)

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.