CSM vs. SRJC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Rosa Junior College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (17,854 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 Rosa Junior College is in Santa Rosa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; Santa Rosa Junior College 20:1.

CSM vs. SRJC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or SRJC? 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 SRJC ($5,831 vs. $8,690).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Rosa Junior College are 30.7% lower than at College of San Mateo ($21,676 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SRJC (about $14 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,318.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at CSM than at Santa Rosa Junior College (about $76 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $11,308.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Rosa Junior College than at College of San Mateo (82% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Rosa Junior College students is 25.1% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,485 vs. $4,386).

CSM vs. SRJC Admissions comparison

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

CSM vs. SRJC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and SRJC? 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 $2,600 more per year than SRJC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than SRJC graduates ($7,000 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SRJC graduates ($72 vs. $82).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SRJC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 50%)

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.