Compton College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

Compare Compton College in Compton, 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 Compton College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 5,225 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Compton College is located in Compton, CA (Small City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Compton 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: Compton College 17:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Compton College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Compton 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 Compton College ($5,831 vs. $14,449).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Compton College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 16.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Compton College (about $190 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,142.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29% higher at CSM than at Compton College (about $2,562 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $8,822.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Compton College (80% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Compton College students is 44% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,316 vs. $4,386).

Compton College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

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

Compton College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Compton 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 $8,400 more per year than Compton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Compton College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 25%)

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.