CSM vs. Sierra College

Comparable Facts

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

Sierra College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (19,125 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); Sierra College is in Rocklin, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Sierra College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; Sierra College 25:1.

CSM vs. Sierra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or Sierra College? 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 Sierra College ($5,831 vs. $10,285).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sierra College are 56.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($13,631 vs. $31,288).
• Sierra College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $114 more per year; $1,446.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 687.3% higher at CSM than at Sierra College (about $9,938 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $1,446.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo as at Sierra College (80% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sierra College students is 14.1% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,006 vs. $4,386).

CSM vs. Sierra College Admissions comparison

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

CSM vs. Sierra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and Sierra College? 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 $8,700 more per year than Sierra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $36,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sierra College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 32%)

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.