Grossmont College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Grossmont College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (14,440 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Grossmont College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grossmont 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 Grossmont College ($5,831 vs. $8,351).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grossmont College are 29.4% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,086 vs. $31,288).
• Grossmont College and CSM have the same published in-state tuition ($1,332.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.1% higher at CSM than at Grossmont College (about $756 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Grossmont College (80% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Grossmont College students is 45.2% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,370 vs. $4,386).

Grossmont College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grossmont College - Open admission; CSM - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Grossmont College Jun 1, 2027.

Grossmont College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grossmont 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 $6,600 more per year than Grossmont College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Grossmont College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($4,500 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Grossmont College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($46 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grossmont College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 43%)

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.