GCC vs. CSM

Deciding between Glendale Community College and College of San Mateo? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Glendale Community College
College of San Mateo

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • GCC Glendale, CA
  • CSM San Mateo, CA
  • Setting
  • GCC Midsize City
  • CSM Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • GCC 12,075
  • CSM 9,901
  • Type
  • GCC Public 2 Year
  • CSM Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • GCC
  • CSM
  • Religious Affiliation
  • GCC -
  • CSM -
  • Status
  • GCC Non-profit
  • CSM Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • GCC
  • CSM

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • GCC $1,191
  • CSM $1,332
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • GCC $10,935
  • CSM $11,384
  • Room & Board
  • GCC $22,086
  • CSM $31,288
  • Average Net Price
  • GCC $10,060
  • CSM $5,831
  • Average Grant Aid
  • GCC $6,418
  • CSM $4,386
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • GCC 85%
  • CSM 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • GCC -
  • CSM -
  • Admitted
  • GCC -
  • CSM -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • GCC Open
  • CSM Open
  • Enrolled
  • GCC Open
  • CSM Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • GCC
  • CSM
  • Typical ACT score
  • GCC
  • CSM
  • Average High School GPA
  • GCC -
  • CSM -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • GCC -
  • CSM -
  • Admissions Standards
  • GCC Unavailable
  • CSM Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • GCC
  • CSM
  • ACT Range
  • GCC
  • CSM
  • SAT Range
  • GCC
  • CSM
  • Submit Test Scores
  • GCC Open admission
  • CSM Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • GCC
  • CSM

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • GCC 28:1
  • CSM 24:1
  • Popular Majors
  • GCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (25%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • CSM
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (19%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • GCC -
  • CSM -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • GCC $38,200
  • CSM $44,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • GCC 56%
  • CSM 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • GCC N/A
  • CSM $7,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • GCC N/A
  • CSM $72

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • GCC 47%
  • CSM 48%
  • % Women
  • GCC 53%
  • CSM 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • GCC High
  • CSM Very High
  • HBCU
  • GCC No
  • CSM No
  • % White
  • GCC 45%
  • CSM 28%
  • % Asian
  • GCC 10%
  • CSM 24%
  • % Black
  • GCC 3%
  • CSM 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • GCC 32%
  • CSM 30%
  • % Native American
  • GCC 0%
  • CSM 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • GCC 0%
  • CSM 2%
  • % Two or More Races
  • GCC 3%
  • CSM 6%
  • % International
  • GCC 5%
  • CSM 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • GCC 2%
  • CSM 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • GCC 93%
  • CSM 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • GCC 0%
  • CSM 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • GCC No
  • CSM No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • GCC No
  • CSM No
  • Meal Plan
  • GCC No
  • CSM No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • GCC No
  • CSM Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • GCC Yes
  • CSM Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Glendale Community College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (12,075 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Glendale Community College is located in Glendale, CA (Midsize City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
  • Glendale Community 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: Glendale Community College 28:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

GCC vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GCC 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 GCC ($5,831 vs. $10,060).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Glendale Community College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
  • College of San Mateo is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than GCC (about $141 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,191.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at CSM than at Glendale Community College (about $449 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,935.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Glendale Community College than at College of San Mateo (85% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Glendale Community College students is 46.3% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,418 vs. $4,386).

GCC vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GCC 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 GCC.

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

GCC vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GCC 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 $6,600 more per year than GCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GCC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 56%)

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.