DVC vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Diablo Valley College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (17,228 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

DVC vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC 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 DVC ($5,831 vs. $11,001).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Diablo Valley College are 25.7% lower than at College of San Mateo ($23,238 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than DVC (about $20 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at CSM than at Diablo Valley College (about $1,064 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,320.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Diablo Valley College (80% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Diablo Valley College students is 1.3% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($4,441 vs. $4,386).

DVC vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC 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 DVC.

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

DVC vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC 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 of Diablo Valley College and CSM have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $44,800), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DVC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 52%)

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.