CSM vs. SMC

Deciding between College of San Mateo and Santa Monica College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

College of San Mateo
Santa Monica College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSM San Mateo, CA
  • SMC Santa Monica, CA
  • Setting
  • CSM Small City
  • SMC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CSM 9,901
  • SMC 23,453
  • Type
  • CSM Public 2 Year
  • SMC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSM
  • SMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSM -
  • SMC -
  • Status
  • CSM Non-profit
  • SMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSM
  • SMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSM $1,332
  • SMC $1,156
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSM $11,384
  • SMC $10,708
  • Room & Board
  • CSM $31,288
  • SMC $25,908
  • Average Net Price
  • CSM $5,831
  • SMC $5,685
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSM $4,386
  • SMC $5,540
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSM 80%
  • SMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSM -
  • SMC -
  • Admitted
  • CSM -
  • SMC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSM Open
  • SMC Open
  • Enrolled
  • CSM Open
  • SMC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSM
  • SMC
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSM
  • SMC
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSM -
  • SMC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSM -
  • SMC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSM Unavailable
  • SMC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSM
  • SMC
  • ACT Range
  • CSM
  • SMC
  • SAT Range
  • CSM
  • SMC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSM Open admission
  • SMC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • CSM
  • SMC Aug 30, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSM 24:1
  • SMC 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSM
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (19%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
  • SMC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (69%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSM -
  • SMC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSM $44,800
  • SMC $39,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSM 58%
  • SMC 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSM $7,000
  • SMC $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSM $72
  • SMC $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSM 48%
  • SMC 45%
  • % Women
  • CSM 52%
  • SMC 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSM Very High
  • SMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • CSM No
  • SMC No
  • % White
  • CSM 28%
  • SMC 26%
  • % Asian
  • CSM 24%
  • SMC 10%
  • % Black
  • CSM 3%
  • SMC 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSM 30%
  • SMC 38%
  • % Native American
  • CSM 0%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSM 2%
  • SMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSM 6%
  • SMC 4%
  • % International
  • CSM 6%
  • SMC 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSM 1%
  • SMC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSM 91%
  • SMC 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSM 0%
  • SMC 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CSM No
  • SMC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CSM No
  • SMC No
  • Meal Plan
  • CSM No
  • SMC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CSM Yes
  • SMC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CSM Yes
  • SMC No

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (23,453 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 Monica College is in Santa Monica, CA (Small City setting).
  • College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Monica College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; Santa Monica College 27:1.

CSM vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or SMC? 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 Santa Monica College than CSM ($5,685 vs. $5,831).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Monica College are 17.2% lower than at College of San Mateo ($25,908 vs. $31,288).
  • College of San Mateo is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $176 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,156.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at CSM than at Santa Monica College (about $676 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,708.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Santa Monica College (80% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 26.3% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,540 vs. $4,386).

CSM vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSM or SMC? 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 SMC 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; SMC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

CSM vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and SMC? 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 $5,800 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($6,500 vs. $7,000).
  • Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($67 vs. $72).
  • More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 45%)

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.