CSM vs. Skyline College

Comparable Facts

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

College of San Mateo is larger than Skyline College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 9,572 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of San Mateo is located in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting); Skyline College is in San Bruno, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Skyline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; Skyline College 29:1.

CSM vs. Skyline College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or Skyline 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 Skyline College ($5,831 vs. $6,639).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at College of San Mateo and Skyline College ($31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Skyline College (about $60 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,272.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at CSM than at Skyline College (about $1,428 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,956.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Skyline College (80% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of San Mateo students is 1% larger than aid received by Skyline College students ($4,386 vs. $4,341).

CSM vs. Skyline College Admissions comparison

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

CSM vs. Skyline College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and Skyline 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 $1,500 more per year than Skyline College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $43,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Skyline College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 54%)

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.