CSM vs. Solano College

Comparable Facts

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

College of San Mateo is larger than Solano College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 9,282 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of San Mateo is located in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting); Solano Community College is in Fairfield, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Solano Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of San Mateo 24:1; Solano Community College 27:1.

CSM vs. Solano College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or Solano 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 Solano College ($5,831 vs. $7,102).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Solano Community College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Solano College (about $160 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,172.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16% higher at CSM than at Solano Community College (about $1,572 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,812.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Solano Community College than at College of San Mateo (85% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Solano Community College students is 4.4% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($4,579 vs. $4,386).

CSM vs. Solano College Admissions comparison

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

CSM vs. Solano College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and Solano 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 $4,700 more per year than Solano College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $2,803 lower median loan debt than Solano College graduates ($7,000 vs. $9,803).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Solano College graduates ($72 vs. $101).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Solano College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 27%)

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.