Cypress College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Cypress College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (15,924 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cypress College is located in Cypress, CA (Large Suburban setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Cypress 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: Cypress College 25:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Cypress College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cypress 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 Cypress College ($5,831 vs. $7,253).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cypress College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 15.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cypress College (about $182 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at Cypress College than at College of San Mateo (about $995 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $11,384.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cypress College than at College of San Mateo (89% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cypress College students is 44.7% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,345 vs. $4,386).

Cypress College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cypress College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cypress College Aug 25, 2027.

Cypress College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cypress 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 $5,500 more per year than Cypress College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $39,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Cypress College graduates ($7,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cypress College graduates ($72 vs. $98).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cypress College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 38%)

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.