Cuesta College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Cuesta College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (11,283 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Rural Fringe setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Cuesta 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: Cuesta College 27:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Cuesta College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College ($5,831 vs. $16,541).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• Cuesta College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $18 more per year; $1,350.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at CSM than at Cuesta College (about $374 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $11,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Cuesta College (80% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of San Mateo students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Cuesta College students ($4,386 vs. $4,143).

Cuesta College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta 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 Cuesta College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cuesta College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cuesta College Aug 13, 2027.

Cuesta College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuesta 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 $4,000 more per year than Cuesta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Cuesta College graduates ($7,000 vs. $11,250).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cuesta College graduates ($72 vs. $116).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuesta College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 51%)

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.