Hartnell College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Hartnell College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (11,273 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hartnell College is located in Salinas, CA (Midsize City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Hartnell 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: Hartnell College 22:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Hartnell College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hartnell 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 Hartnell College than CSM ($5,246 vs. $5,831).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hartnell College are 7.5% lower than at College of San Mateo ($28,953 vs. $31,288).
• Hartnell College is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSM (about $72 more per year; $1,404.00 vs. $1,332.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.7% higher at CSM than at Hartnell College (about $1,010 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $10,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartnell College than at College of San Mateo (94% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hartnell College students is 42.8% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($6,263 vs. $4,386).

Hartnell College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

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

Hartnell College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hartnell 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 $8,500 more per year than Hartnell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $36,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hartnell College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 27%)

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.