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Skyline College De Anza College Canada College Allan Hancock College Foothill College SMC City College of San Francisco Orange Coast College Chabot College SBCC DVC SRJC| Cuesta College | College of San Mateo | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Cuesta College | CSM | ||
| Location | San Luis Obispo, CA | San Mateo, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,908 | 7,512 | ||
| Type | Public 2 Year | Public 2 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cuesta.edu | collegeofsanmateo.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Cuesta College | CSM | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,288 | $1,288 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,296 | $9,408 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,784 | $20,858 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,507 | $6,344 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,559 | $7,086 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 86% | 64% |
Admission |
Cuesta College | CSM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | - | - | ||
| Admitted | - | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | Open | Open | ||
| Enrolled % | Open | Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | ||||
| Application Deadline | Aug 13, 2025 |
Academics |
Cuesta College | CSM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 27:1 | 21:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Cuesta College | CSM | ||
| Graduation Rate | - | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,800 | $44,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 51% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $11,250 | $7,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $116 | $72 |
Diversity |
Cuesta College | CSM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 49% | 49% | ||
| % Women | 51% | 51% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 28% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 27% | 30% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 6% | ||
| % International | 0% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Cuesta College | CSM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 95% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 0% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Cuesta College | CSM | ||
| Campus Housing | No | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Cuesta College is larger than than CSM based on total student enrollment (9,908 students vs. 7,512 students)
Cuesta College vs. CSM Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Cuesta College or CSM?
- Cuesta College and CSM cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($1,288.00 vs. $1,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.2% higher at CSM than Cuesta College ($9,408.00 vs. $9,296.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of San Mateo than Cuesta College ($6,344 vs. $14,507)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuesta College are 17.3% lower than costs at College of San Mateo ($17,784 vs. $20,858)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cuesta College than College of San Mateo (86% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of San Mateo students is 55.4% larger than aid received Cuesta College ($7,086 vs. $4,559)
Which college is harder to get into, Cuesta College or CSM? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSM or Cuesta College .
Cuesta College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Cuesta College or CSM? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CSM and Cuesta College.
- Graduates from College of San Mateo earn on average $4,000 more per year than Cuesta College graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $40,800)
- College of San Mateo students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Cuesta College graduates. ($7,000 vs. $11,250)
- CSM graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans 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/