Columbia Junior College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

College of San Mateo is larger than Columbia Junior College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 2,828 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia College is located in Sonora, CA (Remote Town setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 21:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Columbia Junior College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia Junior College or CSM? 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 Columbia Junior College ($5,831 vs. $12,358).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia Junior College (about $50 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,282.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.9% higher at CSM than at Columbia College (about $2,120 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Columbia College (80% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College students is 39.5% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,119 vs. $4,386).

Columbia Junior College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia Junior College or CSM? 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 CSM and Columbia Junior College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbia Junior College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.

Columbia Junior College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbia Junior College and CSM? 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 $14,400 more per year than Columbia Junior College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.