CSM vs. SCC

Comparable Facts

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

Santiago Canyon College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (11,897 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); Santiago Canyon College is in Orange, CA (Midsize City setting).
• College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santiago Canyon College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; Santiago Canyon College 34:1.

CSM vs. SCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or SCC? 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 SCC ($5,831 vs. $6,573).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santiago Canyon College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCC (about $168 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,164.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.4% higher at CSM than at Santiago Canyon College (about $1,772 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,612.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Santiago Canyon College (80% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santiago Canyon College students is 50% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,580 vs. $4,386).

CSM vs. SCC Admissions comparison

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

CSM vs. SCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and SCC? 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).

• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCC 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.