CSM vs. PGCC

Deciding between College of Southern Maryland and Prince George's Community College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Prince George's Community College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSM La Plata, MD
  • PGCC Largo, MD
  • Setting
  • CSM Rural Fringe
  • PGCC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CSM 5,062
  • PGCC 11,473
  • Type
  • CSM Public 2 Year
  • PGCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSM
  • PGCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSM -
  • PGCC -
  • Status
  • CSM Non-profit
  • PGCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSM
  • PGCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSM $4,200
  • PGCC $4,034
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSM $10,050
  • PGCC $8,762
  • Room & Board
  • CSM $16,530
  • PGCC $20,584
  • Average Net Price
  • CSM $8,006
  • PGCC $8,800
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSM $6,123
  • PGCC $6,707
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSM 54%
  • PGCC 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSM -
  • PGCC -
  • Admitted
  • CSM -
  • PGCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSM Open
  • PGCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • CSM Open
  • PGCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSM
  • PGCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSM
  • PGCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSM -
  • PGCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSM -
  • PGCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSM Unavailable
  • PGCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSM
  • PGCC
  • ACT Range
  • CSM
  • PGCC
  • SAT Range
  • CSM
  • PGCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSM Open admission
  • PGCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • CSM
  • PGCC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSM 16:1
  • PGCC 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSM
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
    • Education (3%)
  • PGCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (34%)
    • Business (25%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSM -
  • PGCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSM $41,400
  • PGCC $42,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSM 42%
  • PGCC 30%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSM $9,000
  • PGCC $8,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSM $93
  • PGCC $82

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSM 39%
  • PGCC 37%
  • % Women
  • CSM 61%
  • PGCC 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSM High
  • PGCC Low
  • HBCU
  • CSM No
  • PGCC No
  • % White
  • CSM 56%
  • PGCC 5%
  • % Asian
  • CSM 3%
  • PGCC 4%
  • % Black
  • CSM 27%
  • PGCC 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSM 6%
  • PGCC 11%
  • % Native American
  • CSM 0%
  • PGCC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSM 0%
  • PGCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSM 5%
  • PGCC 0%
  • % International
  • CSM 0%
  • PGCC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSM 2%
  • PGCC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSM 98%
  • PGCC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSM 1%
  • PGCC 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CSM No
  • PGCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CSM No
  • PGCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • CSM No
  • PGCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CSM Yes
  • PGCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CSM Yes
  • PGCC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, MD with Prince George's Community College in Largo, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prince George's Community College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (11,473 students vs. 5,062 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of Southern Maryland is located in La Plata, MD (Rural Fringe setting); Prince George's Community College is in Largo, MD (Large Suburban setting).
  • College of Southern Maryland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prince George's Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Southern Maryland 16:1; Prince George's Community College 16:1.

CSM vs. PGCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSM or PGCC? 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 Southern Maryland than PGCC ($8,006 vs. $8,800).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Southern Maryland are 19.7% lower than at Prince George's Community College ($16,530 vs. $20,584).
  • College of Southern Maryland is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than PGCC (about $1,036 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $6,314.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at CSM than at Prince George's Community College (about $1,288 more per year; $10,050.00 vs. $8,762.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prince George's Community College than at College of Southern Maryland (76% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prince George's Community College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by College of Southern Maryland students ($6,707 vs. $6,123).

CSM vs. PGCC Admissions comparison

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

CSM vs. PGCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSM and PGCC? 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 Prince George's Community College earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than CSM graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $41,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Prince George's Community College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($8,000 vs. $9,000).
  • Among borrowers, PGCC graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($82 vs. $93).
  • More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PGCC students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 30%)

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.