CSM vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of San Mateo in San Mateo, CA with Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Barbara City College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CSM vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($5,831 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $92 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at CSM than at Santa Barbara City College (about $952 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,432.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Santa Barbara City College (80% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 34.3% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,889 vs. $4,386).

CSM vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSM or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

CSM vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and SBCC? 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 $4,400 more per year than SBCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than SBCC graduates ($7,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SBCC graduates ($72 vs. $98).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SBCC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 39%)

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.