Cuyamaca College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, 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 Cuyamaca College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 8,905 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cuyamaca College is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Cuyamaca 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: Cuyamaca College 28:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Cuyamaca College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cuyamaca 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 Cuyamaca College ($5,831 vs. $7,752).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cuyamaca College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• Cuyamaca College is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $14 more per year; $1,346.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at CSM than at Cuyamaca College (about $70 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $11,314.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cuyamaca College than at College of San Mateo (81% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cuyamaca College students is 88% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($8,246 vs. $4,386).

Cuyamaca College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

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

Cuyamaca College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cuyamaca 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 $12,900 more per year than Cuyamaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Cuyamaca College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($46 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cuyamaca College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 36%)

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.