CSM vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

College of San Mateo is larger than West Valley College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 7,655 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CSM vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or West Valley 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 West Valley College ($5,831 vs. $7,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of San Mateo are 11.5% lower than at West Valley College ($31,288 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 11.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $158 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.8% higher at CSM than at West Valley College (about $2,682 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at College of San Mateo (81% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by West Valley College students is 9.6% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($4,806 vs. $4,386).

CSM vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

CSM vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and West Valley 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 $3,700 more per year than West Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $41,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former West Valley College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 45%)

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.