Irvine Valley College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Irvine Valley College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (13,018 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Irvine Valley 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: Irvine Valley College 31:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Irvine Valley College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College than CSM ($5,821 vs. $5,831).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Irvine Valley College are 17.6% lower than at College of San Mateo ($25,769 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $176 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.2% higher at Irvine Valley College than at College of San Mateo (about $476 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $11,384.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Irvine Valley College (80% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 65.4% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($7,254 vs. $4,386).

Irvine Valley College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College.

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

Irvine Valley College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley 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 $3,600 more per year than Irvine Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than CSM graduates ($6,000 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSM graduates ($62 vs. $72).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Irvine Valley College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 44%)

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.