Fullerton College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (19,521 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Fullerton College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College ($5,831 vs. $8,306).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton 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 Fullerton College (about $182 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than at College of San Mateo (87% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fullerton College students is 20.9% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($5,301 vs. $4,386).

Fullerton College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

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

Fullerton College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 $7,500 more per year than Fullerton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fullerton College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 39%)

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.